A Jewish man was attacked by a gang of masked thugs after they allegedly heard him speaking Hebrew on his mobile phone.
The 22-year-old, named by the Jewish News as Shalev Ben-Yakar, had stepped outside his home in Golders Green, North London, to make a phone call at 2am on Monday.
According to the Campaign Against Antisemitism, five masked men walking nearby overheard the man and started chasing him.
The campaign group said the attackers caught him, dragged him across the road and subjected him to a brutal assault, tearing his clothes and throwing away his shoes.
It is claimed the victim was left close to losing consciousness. Pictures circulated on social media showed a man’s face with cuts and bruises.
The Jewish charity CST, which provides security patrols, said police were called by a neighbour who heard the disturbance, but the suspects fled before officers arrived.
A CST spokesman said: ‘This was a violent and appalling attack in the heart of Golders Green.
‘CST is providing support to the victim and his family. We urge anyone who witnessed what happened, to contact the police and CST immediately.
Pictures supplied by the Campiagn Against Antisemitism show the extent of the man’s injuries
The man was allegedly attacked after four masked men heard him speaking Hebrew on his mobile phone outside his flat in Golders Green, North London
‘At a time of heightened antisemitism, incidents like this underline the very real dangers facing Jewish communities.’
The Campaign Against Antisemitism said: ‘It is plain for all to see that Jewish lives are under threat in their own communities.
‘We cannot wait any longer for real intervention against this horrific wave of violence against Britain’s Jews.
‘We are in dire need of urgent action.’
A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: ‘Officers attended within six minutes and spoke to the victim, a man in his 20s, who later attended hospital with injuries to his face and back.
‘The assault is being treated as an antisemitic hate crime. No arrests have been made at this stage and police enquiries continue.’
It comes after two ambulances belonging to Jewish charity Hatzola were set on fire in Golders Green in March. Three men and a teenager have been charged with arson.
On April 29, two Jewish men were stabbed as they walked in Golders Green. Essa Suleiman, 45, is accused of attempted murder and will stand trial in March next year.
Suleiman is also accused of attempting to murder a Muslim friend hours before the Golders Green incident.
