‘They kicked me like an animal’: Israeli tourist speaking Hebrew attacked in London

A 22-year-old Jewish man visiting London from Israel was allegedly assaulted by a group of men in Golders Green, north London, during the early hours of Monday. Metropolitan Police have launched an investigation and are treating the case as an antisemitic hate crime.According to the BBC, the victim sustained injuries to his face, neck, and back and was taken to hospital for treatment before later being discharged. The Metropolitan Police said officers were called shortly after 2 am following reports of an assault on a Jewish man by several attackers.

‘They kicked me like an animal’

Speaking to the BBC, the victim recalled the brutal assault, saying: “They kicked me like an animal and didn’t stop. They were shouting ‘Are you Jewish’? I was thinking they could kill me.”The man alleged that around five men attacked him while he was speaking to friends on the phone. He claimed the attackers swore at him, ripped his trousers and left him with only one shoe during the assault.

Victim believes he was targeted for speaking Hebrew

The victim told the BBC he believes he was specifically targeted because he was speaking Hebrew and was visibly Jewish. He said that despite hearing about recent antisemitic incidents in London, he had previously felt safe in the city.“It felt far away for me, and I was feeling safe. But now that it’s happened to me, I think something big needs to change in London, and in Europe,” he said.The Metropolitan Police confirmed that inquiries into the attack are ongoing and appealed for witnesses to come forward. No arrests have been made so far.

Rise in antisemitic incidents

This comes amid rising concern over antisemitic attacks in London, especially after last month’s stabbings in Golders Green and several attacks targeting Jewish sites in the capital, including arson incidents.The Community Security Trust, a Jewish security charity, described the incident as a “violent and appalling attack”.Earlier this month, the Met Police announced a new Community Protection Team comprising 100 additional officers to help protect London’s Jewish communities.