Two Jewish schools in north London have been targeted with red paint, resulting in what police have identified as a "disgraceful attempt to intimidate and harass" the community.
Shomrim Stamford Hill, a Jewish neighborhood watch-style group, reported that one school was vandalized on Thursday, and the second incident occurred on Monday. CCTV footage showing a masked figure spraying red paint on the school buildings was shared on social media.
The Metropolitan Police has confirmed that this incident is under investigation as a hate crime.
Shomrim, also known as Shmira, comprises volunteer Jewish civilian patrols established in certain Jewish communities.
Detective Chief Superintendent James Conway, responsible for policing in Hackney and Tower Hamlets, stated, "We have increased police patrols in the area since the recent events in Israel to offer reassurance. We are closely collaborating with partners such as the Community Security Trust, Shomrim, Hackney Council, and other local stakeholders. We have a zero tolerance for hate crime."
One school located on Lordship Road was vandalized just before 7:00 AM on Thursday, while the other had paint thrown on its exterior in Woodberry Down, as per the Met Police.
Chaim Hochhauser, the chief executive of Shomrim, expressed, "The brazen acts of vandalism have sent shockwaves through our community. The fear and anxiety are palpable, particularly among the students and their families, who are now confronted with the harsh reality of hatred that has literally stained the walls of their educational sanctuaries."
This act of vandalism occurs amidst heightened concerns regarding potential antisemitic crimes in the UK, following the attack by Hamas on Israel on October 7 and the subsequent military response.
Dave Rich, the director of policy at the Community Security Trust (CST), a charity dedicated to safeguarding British Jews from antisemitism and related threats, remarked, "Two Jewish schools in Stamford Hill have been targeted with red paint in what appears to be a disgraceful attempt to intimidate and harass our community. This incident has been reported to both CST and the police, and we are assisting the police with their investigation. We urge anyone with information about this appalling act of anti-Jewish hatred to contact the police." Photo by Dani_7C3, Wikimedia commons.