THREE JEWISH WOMEN REPORT ASSAULTS IN HACKNEY

Three Jewish women reported being assaulted near Clapton Common in Hackney, east London, on Monday, according to the Metropolitan Police. Footage shows a man striking one of the women as she pushed a baby in a pram. Officers arrived at about 1.40pm after volunteers from Shomrim, a Jewish neighbourhood watch organisation, detained a man. Police arrested him on suspicion of racially aggravated common assault and said they believed the women had suffered minor injuries. The man remained in custody, and police said they were treating the assaults as a suspected antisemitic hate crime.

Shomrim said a woman contacted the group after a man punched her in the face. Volunteers arrived about 30 seconds later and witnessed a second assault, the organisation said. In a social media post, Shomrim said the man punched that woman twice in the face, leaving significant bruising. Footage from the area shows people running after the man before volunteers held him until police arrived. Police asked any other people who may have been assaulted to contact officers.

Police also arrested the man on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm in connection with a separate assault on a woman in Islington on Friday. The woman reportedly knew him. Chief Inspector Erica Crawshaw said: “We have launched an investigation and would ask that anyone with information that could help police, or any victims who have not yet come forward, contact us as soon as possible.” Crawshaw said officers had increased patrols in the area. She said police were speaking to community leaders in Hackney.