Get you up to speed: Vehicle ‘accelerates towards students’ near Jewish school in north London | News UK
Met Police are investigating a suspected antisemitic incident where a vehicle reportedly drove towards pupils near Hasmonean High School for Boys in northwest London.
WTXpolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley described the incident outside Hasmonean High School as part of a broader rise in antisemitic attacks across London.
Met Police are appealing for witnesses and dash cam footage following an alleged antisemitic incident near Hasmonean High School for Boys on April 20.
What we know so far
Pupils from Hasmonean High School for Boys in northwest London were reportedly seen fleeing as a car allegedly mounted the pavement and drove towards them. The incident is being investigated by the WTXpolitan Police as a suspected antisemitic attack.
A ‘black saloon-type vehicle’ is said to have approached students waiting to cross the road around 3.40pm on April 20, causing them to scatter. Headteacher James Fisher confirmed the school is closely monitoring the situation in light of recent antisemitic incidents in the area.
The vehicle left the scene towards Henlys Corner/the A406, and police have appealed for witnesses and anyone with dash cam footage to come forward. The school, which serves the Orthodox Jewish community and has more than 750 students, has extensive CCTV coverage of the main road.
In response to a rise in antisemitic attacks, the WTXpolitan Police has established a specialist unit dedicated to addressing this issue. Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley described the situation as a ‘pandemic’ of antisemitism, highlighting the need for additional police resources.
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Car ‘speeds towards pupils’ near north London Jewish school | News UK
Pupils from a Jewish school were reportedly seen running for their lives after a car allegedly mounted a pavement and sped towards them.
Met Police are probing a suspected antisemitic attack after a ‘black saloon-type vehicle’ reportedly ‘drove towards the students whilst they were waiting to cross the road’ near Hasmonean High School for Boys in northwest London.
Officials say the car was then seen ‘mounting the curb and causing the students to move quickly out of the way’ at around 3.40pm on April 20.
A letter to parents from the school’s headteacher, James Fisher, said a group of pupils were involved in a ‘concerning incident’ near a pedestrian crossing close to the A1 carriageway.
Mr Fisher told WTX that staff and security were being ‘cautious and vigilant’ after the alleged attempted ramming – particularly in light of recent high-profile anti-Semitic incidents, including the stabbing of two men in nearby Golders Green.
He said: ‘We don’t comment on ongoing investigations, but like most in the Jewish community at this time, we are being cautious and vigilant and we put our students’ safety at the forefront of what we do at this time.’
The school has round-the-clock security at the gates, but the alleged incident happened about 100 metres away.
A parent who lives near the school told WTX: ‘It’s despicable to be targeted for being a Jewish person, it’s so low. These are just children walking from school. It seems nowhere is safe.’
The school has extensive CCTV which covers the main road where the alleged incident is understood to have taken place.
Security staff at the school told WTX they had been on high alert in recent months after a spate of confirmed and alleged attacks on the Jewish community.
Mr Fisher’s letter added that the vehicle drove off towards Henlys Corner/the A406 following the attack, and that police are now appealing for any witnesses who may have seen the alleged incident to come forward.
They also want to hear from anyone who may have dash cam footage from the area at the relevant time.
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Witnesses can contact the Met Police on 101, quoting reference number 01/7491684/26.
Hasmonean High School for Boys on Holder’s Hill is a secondary school and sixth form academy ‘serving the Orthodox Jewish Community of northwest London’. It has more than 750 students.
We previously reported that the Met had established a new 100-strong specialist unit to tackle a rise in antisemitic attacks in the capital.
It comes following a double stabbing in Golders Green, which is being treated as an act of terrorism, and arson attacks on volunteer Jewish ambulances and an October 7 memorial wall.
WTXpolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley described the spate of attacks as a ‘pandemic’ of antisemitism, saying an extra 300 police officers were needed.
The Home Office is committing an extra £18 million, and a further £4 million is available through the Jewish Community Protective Security Grant.