Hate ranter shoves pram in café attack on family
POLICE ARE investigating after a man subjected a Jewish family to antisemitic abuse outside a café in St Albans, calling them “dirty Jews” and pushing a pram carrying their child.
A video of the tirade filmed by the father also shows the stranger kicking an advertising board towards them.
Speaking to the Independent, Michael, who did not wish to give his full name, said the man had walked past where he and his family were sitting and “shoved the pram rather aggressively with the infant in it”.
The incident took place as he and his in-laws and their baby were sitting outside the St Albans coffee shop on Sunday.
The man was later identified as Adam Cassidy, 19, who moved to Britain from Egypt five years ago.
According to Michael, when they asked Cassidy why he had done that do them, he said it was because they were “dirty Jews”.
“At that point I took out my phone and started filming and asked him to repeat it, which he did,” Michael said.
When Michael, who wears a kippah, Abuse: Cassidy asked him to repeat what he said, the man repeated the abuse and tried to knock the phone out of his hand.
“It was a bit of a shock [and] completely unprovoked,” Michael told the Independent. “It was very upsetting and very distressing. Obviously this comes at a time of rising antisemitism in the UK. It’s very uncomfortable.”
He said he had experienced antisemitic abuse on the streets before but added that, in his view, the recent spike in hate crimes was linked to the antisemitism crisis in Labour. A spokeswoman for the Hertfordshire Constabulary confirmed that officers were investigating a “racially aggravated assault.
Mr Cassidy told Mail Online: “I really regret it ever happening. I was just trying to act big because I am young and stupid.
“I may have lost my job over it and I would love to apologise to the family. I don’t hate Jews at all.”
Mr Cassidy’s grandmother distanced herself from her grandson, saying his behaviour had led his mother to make him to leave the family home.
“I’ve seen the video and it’s terrible,” the grandmother said. “He has not lived here for six weeks now. My daughter is a Muslim and got him to leave over his behaviour.”