A 30-year-old Orthodox Jewish man, who was filming a property inspection in Slough, Berkshire, was subjected to a vicious antisemitic attack. The father-of-two, who wishes to remain anonymous, was called a 'dirty motherf***** Jew' and threatened with physical violence. The assailant, a cyclist, accused him of 'killing kids in Palestine' before lunging at him. The victim, who had his kippah on, said he now feels it is unsafe to 'go around as a visible Jew' in modern Britain.
Attack Details
The incident occurred on Monday in Elliman Avenue. The victim, a building inspector, was checking a property when he heard the cyclist shout 'dirty Jew'. He began recording on his phone as the man approached, spewing racial slurs and threatening to break his jaw. A passerby in a car allegedly encouraged the attacker, escalating the situation. A Good Samaritan intervened but struggled to stop the assault until a neighbour threatened to call police, prompting the cyclist to flee, calling her a 'Zionist b*tch'.
Victim's Reflections
The victim revealed he berated himself for being visibly Jewish, questioning his own judgment. He had seen news of recent arson attacks on Jewish ambulances in Golders Green and a synagogue attack, yet still felt invincible. He said, 'We live in our cocoons where we try and pretend things are safe... I was telling myself off for being irresponsible.' Despite initial doubts about police response, he praised Thames Valley Police for arriving within ten minutes and being supportive. He called Britain a tolerant nation but warned that 'a line has been blurred over being too tolerant of extremism'.
Growing Fear Within the Community
The attack comes amid a surge in antisemitic incidents. Since October 7, 2023, the victim noted increased frequency and violence of slurs. He has since removed his kippah outside Jewish areas and considered self-defence lessons. Rabbi Levi Schapiro, who knows the victim, expressed fear within the ultra-Orthodox community, saying, 'When I leave Stamford Hill I am looking over my shoulder.' He criticized the government for only issuing statements without effective action, leading to copycat attacks.
Police and Political Response
Thames Valley Police arrested a 48-year-old man on suspicion of racially/religiously aggravated assault. Detective Inspector Terry Dixon assured the Jewish community that the investigation is a priority. Labour MP for Slough, Tan Desi, condemned the 'heinous' incident, stating, 'Antisemitism has no place in our society.' Karen Pollock of the Holocaust Educational Trust said, 'Antisemitism has been normalised,' while Alex Hearn from Labour Against Antisemitism noted the UK is becoming 'an intolerant and dangerous place just to walk around looking Jewish'.
Context of Rising Antisemitism
The attack follows a spate of incidents targeting Jewish sites. On March 23, arsonists destroyed four Hatzola ambulances in Golders Green. Other attacks include a firebombing at Kenton United Synagogue, an attempted arson at Jewish Futures offices, and a brick thrown at Finchley Reform Synagogue. Suspicious items were found near the Israeli embassy, linked to an Iran-backed group. Police are investigating whether Iranian criminal proxies are behind the attacks. Twenty-three people have been arrested in connection with these incidents.
The victim, whose family fled Nazi Germany, is now considering moving to Israel. He said, 'Britain has always been my home... but now I am considering whether it is a place I can stay.'
