A man has been charged with religiously aggravated assault after three Jewish people were attacked in north London, the Metropolitan Police have said.
Details of the Incident
Dylan Ossei, aged 34 and of Lyndhurst Drive in Hornchurch, is also charged with religiously aggravated harassment and threatening behaviour after he allegedly assaulted members of the Jewish community on Southbury Road, Enfield, in the early hours of Saturday.
Three victims – two men aged 58 and 26, and a 53-year-old woman – sustained injuries that did not require further medical treatment, the Met Police said on Sunday.
“The Met has made it abundantly clear that we treat reports of alleged antisemitic hate crime with the utmost seriousness and diligence, as demonstrated by the swift arrest and charge following this incident,” Detective Superintendent Marco Bardetti, who oversees policing in Enfield and Haringey, said. “We will continue working closely with Jewish communities across London to provide reassurance and ensure people feel safe in their daily lives.”
Patrolling officers were alerted at around 1.20am on Saturday that a man was allegedly harassing, threatening and assaulting Jewish people in Southbury Road.
Charges and Court Appearance
Ossei, who was arrested on Saturday, was charged with assault, racially or religiously aggravated assault, threatening or abusive behaviour to cause fear or provoke violence, racially or religiously aggravated harassment, and threatening or abusive behaviour to cause harassment, alarm or distress.
He has been remanded in custody and is due to appear at Highbury Magistrates’ Court on Monday.
Broader Context of Antisemitic Incidents
The alleged incident comes following a number of high-profile antisemitic incidents across the country. On Sunday, a number of senior politicians joined thousands of people gathered outside Downing Street for a protest against antisemitism.
Organisers of the rally called on the British public to “face down extremists” after a series of arson attacks at Jewish sites in London, as well as a double stabbing in Golders Green that is being treated as an act of terrorism.
Politicians from a number of political parties took the stage to speak to the rally in London, where they were met with a mixed reception. Kemi Badenoch, leader of the opposition, was met with raucous applause and cheers, while cabinet minister Pat McFadden was jeered and booed as he spoke on stage.
