Man arrested for allegedly hurling antisemitic abuse at Jewish passengers on London bus

A man has been arrested on suspicion of hurling antisemitic abuse at Jewish children on a bus in London and claiming to have a knife on his person, the UK’s Jewish Chronicle newspaper reports.

According to the report, the incident occurred on Thursday on a bus that travels through Stamford Hill, a neighborhood of London that is home to more than 15,000 ultra-Orthodox Jews.

Witnesses cited by the Jewish Chronicle recount that the suspect told Jewish passengers aboard the bus, including children, that it was a “shame Hitler didn’t kill you,” and that they should have been sent to the gas chambers.

Shomrim, a Jewish security organization in London, says in a statement that as the incident unfolded, “the bus driver stopped the bus and activated the emergency alarm” while members of the public stepped in to assist the Jewish passengers.

The organization says it arrived on the scene and “swiftly detained the suspect” until the police arrived, at which point they were handed over and arrested.

In a statement carried by the Jewish Chronicle, the Metropolitan Police confirm that a 50-year-old man was arrested “on suspicion of making threats to kill.”

Although the man claimed that he was carrying a knife with him during the incident, the police say he was searched and was not found to be carrying any weapon.