Jewish man targeted with antisemitic abuse on Tube and bus in separate incidents within an hour
Police forces launch seperate investigations into ‘torrent of antisemitic abuse’ and threats in London
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Police have launched two separate investigations after a Jewish man was subjected to antisemitic abuse on London public transport twice within an hour.
The Metropolitan Police and the British Transport Police both confirmed on Sunday they had launched separate probes after footage of the incidents were published on social media.
The man, who has not been named, was on a bus to Oxford Street at around 11.40pm on 3 July when he was approached by another passenger who police said launched a “torrent of antisemitic abuse”.
In a statement published on Sunday, the Met Police said the man was reported “to have made antisemitic comments and threat”.
“Officers are aware of a video posted on social media following the incident and will be meeting the victim to gather further information about this incident,” a spokesperson said.
“Enquiries are ongoing. There has been no arrests at this time.”
About an hour later, the victim got on the London Underground where he was chanted at.
A clip posted on social media showed a group going down an escalator at a Tube station in London when abuse appeared to be shouted at people behind them.
In the video, one man can be heard chanting “F****** hate you Jew.”
The incident took place on Saturday night at Oxford Circus Underground station, the victim’s brother wrote on Twitter. He described it as “depressing” and “the typical experiences for someone wearing religious garb on public transport in London”.
A British Transport Police spokesperson confirmed officers had launched an investigation.
They added: “We take such incidents extremely seriously and are investigating.
“We believe everyone has the right to travel on the rail and underground without fear or intimidation.”
The force said it was investigating “a group” in the Tube station but later issued an appeal for only one man.
The incidents come after recent figures show a surge in antisemitic attacks since the escalation in tensions between Israel and the Palestinians.
In May, 201 antisemitic incidents were reported in the capital, according to the Jewish safety charity the Community Security Trust (CST), almost all of them linked to the conflict in Israel and Gaza.