UK: Gang of 20 Men Attack Synagogue

London - Anti-Semitic Attackers Yelling 'We Will Kill You' Storm Synagogue in Stamford Hill MORE http://www.4yiddish.com/

London - A group of approximately 20 youths attacked a local synagogue in the London suburb of Stamford Hill over the weekend, yelling threats, beating worshipers and vandalizing property, according to IsraelHatzolah’s official twitter account.

One witness belonging to the “Ahavat Torah” congregation described the mob as shouting “we will kill you” as they proceeded to physically assault the worshipers inside the synagogue and tear apart prayer books.

Another Jewish local who had passed by the scene rushed inside, grabbing one of the suspects with the intention of bringing him to the police, but was quickly overwhelmed by the other attackers and suffered strikes to the face, losing a tooth.

Police confirmed that they were treating the attack as an anti-Semitic incident. Police were called to the scene early on Sunday morning, just after 1 a.m. local time, when a group of intoxicated men, believed to have come from a nearby party, tried to gain entry into the synagogue.

One man suffered injuries while trying to prevent the men from entering. Some of the group did succeed in entering, eventually being removed by security staff.

Six men were arrested for disturbing public order and assault.

Police said that they had increased patrols in the area in order to provide reassurance to the community.

The assault on the north London synagogue comes days before the opening of a hotline dedicated to providing advice and support to victims of anti-Semitism.

According to the CST, a charity meant to monitor and provide solutions to acts of anti-Jewish behavior in the UK, the hotline, called the Campaign Against Anti-Semitism, is an answer to numerous anti-Semitic incidents that have plagued Britain’s Jewish community.

In February of 2014, the Community Security Trust issued a report that showed the number of anti-Semitic incidents in the UK more than doubling from 1,168.

Apart from physical violence and damage to property, reports of anti-Semitism also included increased internet based abuses such as hate speech on social media websites.

Close to 150,000 of Britain’s estimated 286,000 Jews who live in and around London saw a 137% increase in anti-Semetic incidents reaching 583.

Meanwhile the second-largest Jewish center, Manchester, had a 79% rise to 309 incidents. The CST also noted anti-Semitic incidents in 89 other locations around the UK.