{"id":45743,"date":"2021-12-06T11:28:00","date_gmt":"2021-12-06T11:28:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/thevoiceoflondon\/?p=45743"},"modified":"2021-12-06T11:28:02","modified_gmt":"2021-12-06T11:28:02","slug":"bus-full-of-jewish-people-attacked-in-oxford-street-while-celebrating-hanukkah","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/thevoiceoflondon\/bus-full-of-jewish-people-attacked-in-oxford-street-while-celebrating-hanukkah\/","title":{"rendered":"Bus full of Jewish people attacked in Oxford Street while celebrating Hanukkah"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Anti-semitic incidents against the Jewish Community are rising in the UK as reported by the CST. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As Hanukkah is being celebrated in full swing, those in the Jewish community have been a major target for hate crime. This year, the 8 days of Hanukkah is from the 28th of November to the 6th of December which has led to many celebrations across London. Sadly, those celebrating couldn’t end their nights peacefully. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On Monday, when celebrating Hanukkah a group of Jewish people were on an open top bus when they became victims to an attack by a group of men. As shown in the footage<\/a>, the attack included a barrage of insults. The group of men in the video spat at them, and were seen shouting and making gestures that resembled the Nazi salute at the passengers on the bus. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Metropolitan Police<\/a> have classed this incident as a hate crime following a report made to the Community Security Trust <\/a>(CST) by those inside the bus. The charity helps provide security for the Jewish community in the UK, specifically when it comes to antisemitic incidents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Indepenent reported<\/a> a CST statement by the director of policy who stated that \u201cIn the first six months of this year, we had the highest number of antisemitic incidents ever reported to the CST in the first six months of any year\u201d. Following with the fact that \u201cThis disgusting incident goes against everything this city stands for and should be condemned by all\u201d. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The President of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, Marie van der Zyl also made a statement on twitter<\/a>, stating that they were \u201cappalled by the horrifying footage of Jewish people targeted on Oxford Street… We hope the police will swiftly identify and arrest those involved in this disgusting incident.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Detective Inspector Kevin Eade of the Met’s Central West Command  made a statement on the Met website<\/a> mentioning that it \u201cwas a deeply upsetting incident for a community group who were celebrating the Jewish festival Hanukkah\u201d. Following with the fact that \u201cThere is no place in our city for hate crime. Everyone should be able to enjoy their lives without harassment”. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Metropolitan Police has since released images of the three men in hopes to identify them. If you think you may have witnessed the incident on Monday the 29th of November at approximately 8pm on Oxford Street, please get in contact with the Met police immediately. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has also condemned the incident by stating that : <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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We take a zero-tolerance approach to antisemitism in London, and the @metpoliceuk<\/a> are rightly investigating this vile incident on Oxford Street.

If you have any information, please call the police on 101 or contact @CrimestoppersUK<\/a>. https:\/\/t.co\/iW7herC2ug<\/a><\/p>— Sadiq Khan (@SadiqKhan) December 2, 2021<\/a><\/blockquote>