Three Jewish friends claim they were attacked for ‘speaking Hebrew’ by a gang of people in Leicester Square and made repeated 999 calls before officers arrived.
The victims say they had enjoying a night out in London’s West End when they were set upon by a group of up to 20 men in the early hours of Sunday morning.
One of the them claimed she called the Metropolitan Police 10 times in fear for her life during the incident, which she said ‘never thought would happen in London’.
They said they were punched in the head and neck while the group of thugs chanted ‘Free Palestine’, before they were assaulted by ’15 to 20 guys’ – with one left needing hospital treatment for their injuries.
The Metropolitan Police is treating the attack as an ‘anti-Semitic hate crime’, adding it took 28 minutes for its officers to arrive at the scene.
The incident took place in Leicester Square in the early hours of Sunday, January 21. Pictured: An aerial view of people walking in Leicester Square
The vile attack took place at around 1.30am on Sunday morning as two Jewish men and one woman walked through one of Britain’s busiest nightlife areas.
The woman, who gave her name as Tehilla, told the Telegraph the group were speaking Hebrew when men confronted them asking ‘are you Jewish?’
The 28-year-old told the paper: ‘I said ‘yes, I’m Jewish,’ and then they started chanting ‘Free Palestine’, and f*** Jews, all this kind of swearing at us.
‘So we just tried not to get into trouble, to walk away, but they started following us and then all of a sudden, it started with like two or three guys, and all of a sudden, they called all their friends and 15 to 20 guys started attacking us physically.’
Tehilla, who claims she was hurt in the leg and hit on the neck, while her friends were punched in the head, added she was ‘scared she was going to die’.
However, she added that when she rang the Met and told them she and her friends were being attacked because they were Jewish, police ‘kept saying ‘I’m sorry, it takes some time, you are not the only one that called tonight’.’
The Met Police told that no one has yet been arrested in connection with the incident, which it is treating as a ‘hate crime’.
Detective Supt Lucy O’Connor said: ‘We are investigating this incident as an anti-Semitic hate crime.
‘I know how upsetting such inexcusable violence is for anyone who was injured or who witnessed the incident, and also for the wider community. I share their concerns.
‘Officers arrived at the scene some 28 minutes after they were called. Of course, I wish we could have come to their aid sooner.
‘The police investigation will now focus on speaking with the woman and any other victims or witnesses, as well as following up all lines of enquiry including analysis of CCTV. I urge any witnesses to get in touch.
‘I can assure Londoners, tackling anti-Semitic crime is a priority for the Met. There is no place for hate in our city.’
A spokesperson for the force added that police were called at 1.37am to reports woman was assaulted in the area of Leicester Square, who said she did no need an ambulance.
It said: ‘The caller stated that she did not require an ambulance.
‘Officers attended the location, arriving shortly after 02:00hrs, at which point all parties had left the scene.
‘We understand that a woman subsequently attended hospital for treatment.
‘The incident is being treated as a hate crime. Officers will speak with the victim to take a statement and identify any other victims and witnesses.
‘A full investigation, which will include analysis of CCTV from the area, will be led by officers from the Met’s Central West BCU.
‘Any witnesses, or anyone with footage or other information that may assist police, are asked to call 101, ref 791/21jan.’