Police probe online thugs using social media to torment Jews for clicks
TikTok bans creator as Met investigates footage filmed in heart of London’s Jewish community
Police have launched an investigation into a series of online videos showing Jews being targeted in the street in Stamford Hill, as concerns grow over antisemitic prank content gaining traction online.
The sick videos have been linked online to content creator Harry Marsh, known as “Penofein”, whose clips have attracted millions of views across YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok. He is believed to be based in Sussex.
The footage shows members of the strictly Orthodox community being approached, filmed and subjected to behaviour critics say draws on longstanding antisemitic tropes.
In one clip, coins are thrown onto the pavement and described as a “Jew trap”, with passers-by filmed to see if they pick them up. In another, a visibly Jewish man is approached and asked: “Excuse me sir, would you like a pound or should I double it and give it to the next person?” – before the filmer walks away muttering: “Well, well, well.”
Other videos include clips titled “Rizzing up Jewish women”, in which a woman is approached for her phone number and continues to be filmed after declining, as well as footage of individuals being followed, while the person filming calls out “Here boy” while holding money.
A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said: “We have launched an investigation after receiving reports of antisemitic social media videos filmed in Stamford Hill. Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101, quoting reference 01/7425291/26.
“Hate crime of any kind has no place in our communities, and we take all reports incredibly seriously.”
A spokesperson for Sussex Police said: “We are aware of posts on social media about reports of antisemitic social media videos in London.
“Our colleagues in the Metropolitan Police are leading an investigation into these matters.
“Sussex Police has reviewed the information, and it is not believed that any of the social media videos were filmed or uploaded in Sussex. However, we will review any further information about offences in Sussex should new information come to light and support the Metropolitan Police investigation.
“We take reports of hate crime and antisemitism extremely seriously, and anyone who has been impacted is encouraged to report incidents to us on our website or call 101.”
The Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA), which has reviewed the material, said the videos are part of a wider pattern of harassment designed to generate views.
A spokesperson for the group said: “This user has built a following by subjecting Jewish people to antisemitic pranks. To our knowledge, he doesn’t live locally, so he literally travels to Jewish areas in order to racially abuse them and excite his deranged followers.
“It says a lot about our youth that this sort of behaviour engages them. The police have prevented him from filming in commercial establishments, but they have brushed off complaints about his racist harassment of Jews.
“Even he has mocked the authorities by pointing out that street antics – aimed at Jews – is his main focus now anyway. Why is YouTube, Instagram and TikTok continuing to host him, and why have Sussex Police done nothing to address his conduct toward Jewish people?”
In a further development, the group said TikTok has removed the account linked to the content after being contacted, adding: “We are grateful to TikTok for taking such swift action.”
However, similar content remains available elsewhere online, prompting renewed calls for platforms to act.
In another example of social media influencers filming content featuring antisemitic stereotypes and insults towards Jewish people, a content creator duo known as “Dan and Ish” began releasing videos last week of Jews being accosted in Golders Green.
In some of the videos, Jews are approached and told that they have dropped some money on the ground. If they accept the money, the video is captioned “well, well, well”. One of the Jewish people targeted in this fashion was an individual with Down syndrome. In other videos, Jews are approached and asked if they have seen the questioner’s “blind date”, with the names given for said “date” including “Gas boy 221” and “Stingy Jew”. The videos garnered tens of thousands of likes across different social media platforms. Most, if not all, of the videos were filmed via Ray-Ban Meta glasses – spectacles with a built-in camera – meaning that those filmed were very likely unaware that their reactions were being caught on camera.
Sarah Sackman, MP for Finchley and Golders Green, said: “The videos of antisemitic abuse on Golders Green High Street sicken me, and the perpetrators must be held accountable. It is beyond belief that these individuals could not only carry out this abuse, but proudly post about it online. I will be writing to Meta and YouTube to demand that the videos are removed from their platforms – it is unconscionable for this hate to be allowed to fuel social media engagement.
“British Jews must be able to go about their daily lives without fear of harassment and racism. I have been in touch with the Police and CST to support their investigation.”
The videos from the “Dan & Ish” channel, which is run by Daniel Javanmard and Ismael Puga, have since been removed from both Instagram and YouTube. TikTok closed the pair’s account, but they have since set up another one, along with the message “Go follow the new TikTok. Old one has been banned. I wonder why”, accompanied by an eyes sideways emoji.
The pair, who also act as fitness ‘influencers’, had a paid partnership with workout clothes manufacturer Gymshark. However, the company confirmed on Tuesday that it had terminated the deal, saying: “We do not condone racism, discrimination or antisemitism in any form. We have ended our relationship…effective immediately.”
A spokesperson for CAA said: “This disturbing viral trend of targeting Jews is not ‘content’. It is Jew-baiting and intimidation, plain and simple. Harassing Jewish people for online clicks is pathetic regardless of when it is being done, but when looked at against the backdrop of multiple recent deadly antisemitic terror attacks and sky-high levels of Jew-hatred, it becomes all the more sickening. We have informed the Metropolitan Police and trust they will take action. Instagram and TikTok must act urgently to get this content taken down.”
A spokesperson for the Community Security Trust (CST) said: “These videos are promoting actual incidents of anti-Jewish hate and harassment as if it is funny. It is a disgrace that these incidents are taking place and even worse that they are promoted on social media. CST has reported these accounts to YouTube, and we expect a thorough investigation. There must be consequences for those who choose to spread this kind of hatred.”
Community groups say videos framed as “pranks” risk normalising antisemitic abuse and creating an atmosphere of intimidation for visibly Jewish people, particularly in areas such as Stamford Hill and Golders Green.
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