Swastika yobs strike in Jewish community

SWASTIKAS have been scrawled across cars and homes as part of an anti-Semitic attack on a Jewish community in north London.

Police have arrested a man following the attack in Stoke Newington, which has left residents ‘shocked and fearful’.

The Nazi symbols were daubed on up to 27 cars in and around Osbaldeston Road – in an area home to some 20,000 Orthodox Haredi Jews.

Following the attack on Sunday night, police ordered extra patrols and were supported by volunteers from the Jewish neighbourhood patrol group Shomrim.

Volunteer Meir Taub told MailOnline: ‘There is a large Jewish community that lives here with Holocaust survivors and children of Holocaust survivors and to see swastikas is not a pleasant thing for them. People were shocked, scared and fearful.

‘There’s Holocaust survivors here’

‘A lot of damage was caused to a lot of vehicles and there was a lot of concern.’

Mr Taub said swastikas had previously been daubed on the walls of a local primary school.

The group’s coordinator Barry Bard said: ‘Shomrim are committed to bringing a stop to these senseless and mindless acts of vandalism, and are working closely with the police investigation to assist in every possible way.’ Police Inspector Jeoff Bull, of the Hackney neighbourhoods team, added: ‘We will not tolerate anti-Semitism or racism of any kind.

‘We are doing our utmost to trace and bring to justice the suspects involved in this racist graffiti as well as reassure all of our communities.’

Yesterday police announced in a tweet that a 32-year-old man had been arrested in connection with the incident.

The vandalism comes amid warnings that anti-Semitism is on the rise across Europe, fuelled by violence in the Middle East.