A Jewish man has been left fearing for his life after a stranger punched him and shouted antisemitic slurs during an unprovoked assault in Slough, Berkshire. The incident occurred on Monday afternoon on Elliman Avenue, and police are now investigating.
Details of the attack
Footage capturing the ordeal shows the victim, who was working as a building inspector outside a property, being subjected to a torrent of racial abuse. The attacker, riding a black bicycle, approached the man and began shouting, asking: 'What are you doing round here, bruv?' The victim explained he was on a job, but the assailant's language escalated, accusing him of being a 'baby killer' and threatening to break his jaw.
The attacker, dressed in a white baseball cap, grey and black-striped jacket, black jeans, and white trainers, then punched the victim multiple times. The man repeatedly shouted, 'You kill little babies in Palestine?' and used slurs including 'dirty motherf****** Jew.' The victim had warned he was being filmed, but the assailant demanded he turn the camera off before striking again.
Victim's fear and community response
Rabbi Levi Schapiro, speaking on behalf of a friend of the victim, told the Daily Mail that the man now removes his kippah when working out of fear of further attacks. 'He's hiding [his identity]. He's scared,' Rabbi Schapiro said. He criticised the government's response, stating, 'All they're doing is putting out tweets and statements, but no amount of tweets will actually deal with the issue.'
The Community Security Trust (CST) called the attack 'utterly abhorrent,' while the Campaign Against Antisemitism described it as 'Jew-hatred without its disguise.' Thames Valley Police confirmed they are investigating and urged anyone with information to come forward, quoting crime reference number 43260192511.
Broader context of rising antisemitism
This attack follows a spate of antisemitic incidents across London. Just a day earlier, a Jewish-owned shop in Watford was targeted with arson and graffiti. Over the past month, multiple arson attacks have targeted synagogues and Jewish community venues, including a firebombing that damaged the Machzike Hadath synagogue in Golders Green. Twenty-three people have been arrested in connection with these incidents, with police investigating possible links to Iranian-backed groups.
