Police have launched an investigation after videos shared online appeared to show influencers carrying out antisemitic taunts at strangers on the street. The clips, filmed covertly using smart glasses, were posted on platforms such as TikTok and YouTube before being deleted.
One video, captioned 'Asking Jews if they dropped their money', shows the cameraman approaching a man wearing a kippah and saying: 'Shalom - excuse me mate, you dropped your pound.' When the man takes the coin, a stock voiceover says: 'Well, well, well.' Another clip shows the same tactic used on a different man in traditional Jewish clothing.
In a separate video believed to have been filmed in Stamford Hill, north London, the creator uses offensive fake names like 'Stingy Jew' and 'Gas boy 221' when asking about a supposed blind date. A different user allegedly filmed himself throwing coins on the ground as a 'Jew trap' and harassing Jewish women for their numbers. Both users have since been banned from TikTok.
Labour MP Sarah Sackman identified some videos as having been filmed in Golders Green, an area home to one of Europe's largest Jewish communities. She told Jewish News: 'The videos of antisemitic abuse on Golders Green High Street sicken me, and the perpetrators must be held accountable.' Rabbi Levi Schapiro, from the Jewish Community Council, called for stronger intervention to prevent the spread of 'such harmful antisemitic content'.
A Met Police spokesperson said: 'We have launched an investigation after receiving reports of antisemitic social media videos filmed in Stamford Hill. Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101, quoting reference 01/7425291/26. Hate crime of any kind has no place in our communities and we take all reports incredibly seriously.'
