Gang of men filmed spitting at Jewish teenagers in ‘anti-Semitic’ attack

This is the shocking moment a bus full of Jewish people celebrating the second night of Hanukkah was spat at by a gang of men.

Footage of the ‘anti-Semitic’ incident, which took place on Oxford Street in central London, shows the men shouting threats, hurling abuse and trying to smash the windows as shoppers watched.

Inside the bus, passengers can be heard yelling ‘We are Jewish’ and ‘Go, go, drive’ as one of the attackers took off his trainer and began hitting the glass.

None of their insults could be heard, but as the vehicle drove off, some of the men chased after it and made obscene gestures.

The Metropolitan Police confirmed the footage, originally shared by the Jewish Chronicle, is being investigated and that the incident is being treated as a hate crime.

Officers were called at around 8pm on Monday and met the passengers at Grosvenor Place afterwards.

The group shown in the video has not been located and there have been no arrests.

The ‘vile’ scenes were condemned across the Jewish community on Wednesday.

A spokesperson for the Community Security Trust (CST) – a charity which monitors anti-Semitic incidents and provides security support to British Jews – said: ‘London is a city where Jewish people must be able to celebrate our festivals and enjoy an open, confident Jewish way of life.

‘This disgusting incident goes against everything this city stands for and should be condemned by all.’

London’s mayor Sadiq Khan also shared a message of support, saying: ‘We take a zero-tolerance approach to antisemitism in London.

‘Police are rightly investigating this vile incident on Oxford Street as a hate crime.’

Councillor Rachael Robathan, leader of Westminster City Council, also condemned the attack in a tweet: ‘Deeply disturbing scenes of what appears to be an anti-Semitic attack against Jewish teenagers in Oxford Street.

‘We utterly condemn this scenes and I will be raising this with @metpolice UK. We stand shoulder to shoulder with our Jewish community’

Comedian Matt Green also posted: ‘That footage from Oxford Street of men abusing Jewish people on a bus is horrific and disgusting and shows that anti-Semitism remains a real problem in this country.

‘Solidarity with my Jewish friends and I hope these men are found and punished.’

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