Man arrested after three Jewish women report assaults in Hackney
Police treat the case as suspected antisemitic hate crime; suspect remains in custody.
A 33-year-old man has been arrested after three Jewish women reported assaults in Hackney.
The victims, one pushing a baby in a pram, went to police after the incident at Clapton Common in north-east London.
Police were called at about 13:40 BST on Monday after the man was detained by members of Shomrim, a Jewish neighbourhood watch group.
Officers arrested the man on suspicion of racially aggravated common assault. The women are believed to have suffered minor injuries.
The Metropolitan Police said it is treating the incident as a suspected antisemitic hate crime and has increased patrols in the area. Police also say they are speaking to community leaders to provide reassurance, and they have appealed for anyone with information, or anyone else who believes they may have been assaulted, to come forward.
After the arrest, the man was further arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm in connection with a separate incident in Islington on Friday. He remains in custody, the force said.
Detective Chief Inspector Erica Crawshaw called the incident alarming and distressing and thanked Shomrim volunteers for holding the suspect before officers arrived.
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Source:
BBC