Disturbing footage has emerged capturing the moment a respected Jewish academic was violently assaulted and subjected to a torrent of antisemitic abuse by a pro-Palestine mob outside a prestigious London university.
Broad Daylight Assault on Campus
The shocking incident occurred in broad daylight outside SOAS University of London, where Professor Lesley Klaff, a prominent legal scholar and editor of the Journal for the Study of Antisemitism, was surrounded and attacked by approximately 20 protesters.
Eyewitnesses describe horrifying scenes as the mob screamed 'Nazi' and 'child killer' at the professor while physically preventing her from moving through the public street. The confrontation escalated rapidly into physical violence.
Violent Confrontation Captured on Video
Video evidence shows the moment a male protester aggressively shoved Professor Klaff before the situation deteriorated further. The academic was subsequently punched in the face by a female assailant, leaving the university professor visibly shaken and assaulted in the middle of the street.
"I was terrified," Professor Klaff later stated. "They surrounded me, called me horrific names, and then became physically violent. This isn't protest - it's targeted harassment and antisemitic intimidation."
University and Police Response
SOAS University of London has launched an urgent investigation into the incident, which occurred during a pro-Palestine demonstration on campus grounds. Metropolitan Police confirmed they are investigating the assault as a hate crime incident.
The Community Security Trust, a charity protecting British Jews from antisemitism, has condemned the attack in the strongest possible terms, noting the alarming rise in antisemitic incidents on UK campuses since recent Middle East conflicts began.
Broader Implications for Campus Safety
This violent incident raises serious questions about the safety of Jewish students and academics on British university campuses. Numerous Jewish organizations have expressed outrage, calling for immediate action to protect minority groups from targeted harassment.
The attack on Professor Klaff represents one of the most physically violent antisemitic incidents recorded on a UK university campus this year, signaling a dangerous escalation in campus tensions related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
