Boys arrested after rabbi is punched and called 'dirty Jew' in anti-semitic attack
17 December 2019, 15:40
Two boys aged 14 and 15 have been arrested after a senior rabbi was punched to the ground in a north London park.
The two attackers allegedly shouted "F*** Jews", "Dirty Jew" and "Kill the Jews" as he walked through Amhurst Park in Clapton at around 9.45pm on November 29.
He was left dazed and bleeding on the ground before a member of the public came to his rescue.
The Met Police released CCTV images of the two suspects in a bid to catch the assailants and said the pair handed themselves in during the early hours of Tuesday.
They decided to come forward after being recognised by a relative from the police images, the force said.
Detectives are currently questioning the two boys.
The victim, who has not been named, was visiting UK from Israel to attend a wedding and has since returned home.
Jewish neighbourhood patrol Shomrim said he had left the Bobov Synagogue in Egerton Road and was walking along Clapton Common when he was assaulted.
The two attackers repeatedly punched him, threw him to the ground and carried on beating him, only stopping when a member of the public intervened.
Shomrim said the rabbi, who sits in a Judaic court as a judge, was left "collapsed on the pavement, bleeding and dazed where he lay for several minutes".
Fellow rabbi Herschel Gluck said the victim was left "bruised and traumatised" by his ordeal.
Speaking after Tuesday's arrests, Detective Superintendent Adam Ghaboos, from the Met's Central East Basic Command Unit, said: "Communities and local residents have such an important part to play in helping to keep London safe and we often rely on their support and intelligence in helping us bring perpetrators to justice."
He said those concerned about contacting police, particularly concerning a family member's involvement, should call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
