Man arrested after antisemitic abuse in Golders Green

A man has been arrested after allegedly shouting antisemitic abuse at the busy junction of Finchley Road and Bridge Lane. 

Community security volunteers from Shomrim North West London responded swiftly to reports of the suspect shouting “vile” abuse on the street on Tuesday. They detained him until police arrived, at which point officers carried out the arrest.

The arrest follows a series of other antisemitic incidents that have unsettled the community, including faeces smeared on synagogues and walkways, and a bucket of urine thrown towards a Jewish school. Those incidents are being investigated separately as religiously motivated criminal damage.

A Shomrim spokesperson said: “This is now the sixth antisemitic incident locally in just over a week. Whether verbal abuse on the street or desecration of synagogues, it is all part of the same hatred that our community faces. Shomrim will continue to act quickly to protect the public and work with police to ensure offenders are brought to justice.”

Sarah Sackman, Labour MP for Finchley and Golders Green, has already described the recent wave of incidents as “sickening,” vowing to work with police, Barnet Council and Shomrim “to ensure the suspect is brought to justice.” She added earlier this week: “There is no place for antisemitism and hate in our community. I will not tolerate it.”

The Metropolitan Police said: “On Tuesday, 9 September a man approached school children in Bridge Lane NW11 and shouted antisemitic comments at them.

He was arrested at the scene on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence and later taken to hospital for a mental health assessment.

Enquiries continue.”