Police investigate reports swastikas etched into book in Golders Green
The Met Police confirmed enquiries are ongoing but no arrests have been made
Police are investigating reports swastikas were etched into the back of a book left on a Jewish newspaper stand in Golders Green.
The Met Police confirmed enquiries are ongoing after they received an allegation of a hate crime on Golders Green Road on April 24.
A spokesperson for the Met Police said: “It was reported that a Jewish book was left on a newspaper stand and antisemitic graffiti etched into the back.”
Joseph Cassidy, who reported the incident to the police, is crowdfunding money to create a film to raise awareness of modern-day antisemitism.
He claims he conducted research in Golders Green on April 18 and left the book-printed version of his crowdfunding appeal in a newspaper stand for about five minutes, with a note saying “please put back after reading”.
“I decided to go back home, and it was while I was waiting for a train that I decided to flick through the book and discovered the swastikas etched in the back,” he said.
Cassidy told Jewish News: “I don’t think words can truly describe what I felt.
“I’ve experienced antisemitism throughout my childhood growing up and going to a school were I was targeted and bullied for being Jewish on the daily.
“So I wouldn’t say I was surprised to see this level of hatred, but it definitely shocked and deeply saddened me.”
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