Jewish officials: London synagogue attack not anti-Semitic

After six people were arrested following a raucous attack on a London synagogue in the early hours of Sunday, Jewish officials dispelled claims the incident was motivated by anti-Semitism, saying rather, that it was an “anti-social” attack.

In a video posted online, an intoxicated gang of around 20 young men and women could be seen trying to enter the Ahavas Torah synagogue in Stamford Hill while screaming anti-Semitic abuse and hurling objects at the doors, smashing the windows.

One Jewish man suffered light injuries to his face as he tried to prevent the gang from entering the premises. He was taken to a hospital for treatment.

The synagogue’s rabbi, Maurice David, told reporters that the raid was probably not religiously motivated and was merely an example of “anti-social” behavior.

David reiterated that the heavily Jewish London neighborhood remained a safe place for Jews to live and that there was good social cohesion among religious groups, the BBC reported.

Jewish neighborhood patrol group Shomrim concurred that the attack was not calculated and said it had identified the principal culprits who were later apprehended by police.

“The incident is not believed to be a targeted or planned attack, although some anti-Semitic remarks may have been made by some of the group,” a statement by the organization read.

In videos posted on social media, the crowd outside is seen battering the synagogue doors. Occasionally, figures, both men and women, can be seen entering through the doors, apparently in an attempt to calm the tensions. One of the women can be heard apologizing for the damaged doors even as the rough abuse continues from outside.

Additional video clips showed large numbers of police arriving at the scene, including some who appeared to be heavily armed.

“We are investigating to establish the full circumstances of the incident and to identify anyone else involved in the disturbance who has not yet been arrested,” Inspector Jonathan Waterfield was quoted by BBC as saying. “We have also increased police patrols in the Stamford Hill area to provide reassurance to the community.”

Local residents told The Times of Israel that the clash may have begun as an exchange of words between the party-goers and young Jewish men outside the synagogue.

Although the incident did not seem to be premeditated, investigators were initially treating it as an anti-Semitic attack because of some of the verbal abuse.

Jews in Europe have raised alarms in recent months over an apparent uptick in anti-Semitic incidents, including a number of deadly attacks.

Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.