London police are seeking a group of men seen on camera hurling antisemitic abuse at a busload of Jewish teens out to celebrate Hanukkah.
Footage of the Monday night incident, in which the men can be seen spitting, shouting threats, and banging on the windows of the bus, drew outcry from Jewish groups and British politicians as it circulated on social media Wednesday.
Oxford Street London 29 November
— Elder of Ziyon 🇮🇱 (@elderofziyon) December 1, 2021
A bus load of Jewish passengers on their way to a Chanukah celebration in central London was attacked by apparent Muslims spitting, banging on the bus and hurling the soles of their shoes at the Jews as a sign of disrespect. pic.twitter.com/YEBHUeKKyN
“We are appalled by the horrifying footage of Jewish people targeted on Oxford Street,” the Board of Deputies of British Jews said in a statement. “We note that besides attempts to spit at them, at least one of the perpetrators appears to be performing a Nazi salute. We hope the police will swiftly identify and arrest those involved in this disgusting incident.”
The open-top bus carrying a Chabad group of British and Israeli Jews had stopped on Oxford street, the Jewish Chronicle reported, when some of the teens exited to sing and dance in the street. The assailants first began mocking the teens, and then became more aggressive as the group returned to the vehicle — later hitting the bus and its windows with their shoes and fists.
Met Police said officers were deployed at the time of the incident, and later spoke with the victims in Grosvenor Place, after the bus had left the scene to avoid further confrontation.
“The occupants of the bus were Jewish and the abuse directed at them was allegedly antisemitic in nature,” a police spokesperson told The Algemeiner. No injuries were reported.
“The group shown in the video could not be located at the time of the incident and there have been no arrests,” police said. “The incident is being treated as a hate crime and officers will be assessing the available evidence to identify any possible lines of inquiry.”
Calling on the public to report information about the assailants, London Mayor Sadiq Khan said, “Antisemitism has no place whatsoever in society and I utterly condemn these disgusting acts. No one should have to experience this.”
“CST is aware of the antisemitic incident that took place in London last night and are supporting those involved,” said the Community Security Trust, a nonprofit that helps secure British Jews. “This disgusting incident goes against everything this city stands for and should be condemned by all.”
Anyone with information about the men shown in the video has been asked to contact Met Police, citing reference number 6187/29NOV.