The Jewish Chronicle

Arrest over Nazi Israel flag seen on London campus

- BY JC REPORTER BY ROSANNA SPERO

A MAN was arrested after a Jewish driver was allegedly attacked on Golders Green Road last Friday.

According to an eyewitness report, a man was seen behaving “violently and aggressive­ly” towards the driver of a car allegedly flying an Israeli flag.

Together with passers-by, Shomrim and the Community Security Trust (CST) detained a man until police arrived and he was arrested.

The incident took place outside Kosher Kingdom.

An eyewitness said: “I’ve never seen anything like it in my life.

“A man just wanted to jump into a

Jewish man’s car window… He tried to break it down. You have no idea what I just witnessed.”

James Marlow, Israel correspond­ent for The Jewish Weekly, filmed the incident and posted the footage online, claiming that a man had been “looking to attack Jewish shoppers”.

CST said in a statement: “This morning in Golders Green, CST personnel stopped a man who they witnessed behaving violently and aggressive­ly towards the driver of a car flying an

Israeli flag. They held the man, assisted by passers-by and Shomrim personnel, until police came and arrested him.

“We thank our volunteers for their courage and dedication to protecting our community.”

The Community Security Trust last week revealed a sixfold increase in reports of antisemiti­c incidents since fighting between Israel and Hamas and other groups in Gaza erupted.

The charity said that between 8 May and 18 May it recorded 116 incidents, compared to just 19 in the previous 11 days.

Almost all involved language, imagery or behaviour linked to the conflict in Israel and Gaza.

A MAN was arrested and two others questioned at a London university after an Israeli flag featuring a Nazi swastika appeared on campus last week.

Surrey Police questioned a 24-yearold man from Englefield Green in connection with the flag and the investigat­ion continues.

In a separate incident earlier in the week, police also arrested a 21-year-old man from Egham and a 19-year-old woman from Englefield Green on suspicion of hate crimes relating to antisemiti­sm.

They have both been released on bail.

Police said one was arrested having expressed support for Hamas at a protest and the other for posting inflammato­ry material online.

“The arrests relate to reports of hate crime at Royal Holloway University. We are working closely with the university as our investigat­ion progresses,” a Surrey Police spokeswoma­n said.

Jewish students are urging the university to ‘take a stand’ after a spate of antisemiti­c incidents.

Others have received online abuse, including the statement “I wish someone else would come and burn you like Hitler.”

Jon Howden-Evans, Director of Student and Academic Services at Royal Holloway, University of London, said: “We witnessed unacceptab­le behaviour on our campus and online last weekend which we reported to the Police who have now taken action. We are also following our own disciplina­ry procedures and will not hesitate to use the full range of sanctions available to us.”

A viral video showing a Spurs fan being asked to put away an Israeli flag during a game has sparked outcry from some online users.

“This isn’t the time or the place for you to be using that flag,” the masked steward can be heard saying in the clip, drawing criticism. The question of politics in sport has long divided opinion and came to the fore once again during the 11-day conflict as Premier League stars from a number of clubs carried Palestinia­n flags on the pitch after games.

Spurs fans have often been pictured flying Israeli flags during matches, but a club spokespers­on told the JC last Friday that flags of “any political or religious affiliatio­n” were not appropriat­e.

“A football match is a time to show allegiance to a football team first and foremost,” a club spokespers­on said.

The offending flag

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Jewish security guards detain the suspect
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