The mother of an 11-year-old Jewish boy, who was assaulted at Belsize Park Tube station along with his friends, is contemplating leaving Britain following the disturbing incident.
The attack, treated by British Transport Police as a hate crime, has left her son "deeply shaken" and struggling to sleep.
Speaking anonymously to MailOnline, she expressed her family's fear and disillusionment: "There's a lot of support being given by the British Transport Police and the school but my son is very shaken and he's struggling to sleep."
"We love this country, and we participate and we contribute but now we're being singled out in exactly the same way as Jews were singled out in 1936 in Berlin," she added, reflecting on the rise of anti-Semitic sentiments.
The incident, reported on Monday afternoon, involved Jewish children being assaulted, although no serious injuries were reported. According to the Community Security Trust, the attack underscores the alarming levels of anti-Semitism in the country.
Detailing the harrowing experience, another victim's mother recounted the aggressors' actions: "They ran ahead of my son and kicked one of his friends to the ground. They were trying to push another kid onto the tracks. They got him as far as the yellow line."
While initial reports suggested children had been pushed onto the tracks, these claims were found to be false by a school staff member. Despite this, the impact on the children involved has been significant, with ongoing support provided by both the school and authorities.
The British Transport Police are actively investigating the incident, appealing for witnesses and identifying the alleged offenders, believed to be from another school. The Community Security Trust has assured increased police presence in response to ensure the safety of Jewish children in the area.
Antisemitic incidents have seen a troubling rise in recent years, with 4,103 recorded in 2023 compared to 1,662 the previous year, highlighting a growing concern within the Jewish community.
In response to the attack, a statement from the British Transport Police affirmed their commitment: "Our ongoing priority is to ensure that Jewish children can go about their daily lives free from harassment and anti-Jewish hatred."
Reflecting on the incident, the mother concluded with a poignant question that resonates with the broader implications of antisemitism: "I feel that encapsulates what antisemitism feels like. Why? What have we done?" Photo by Oxyman, Wikimedia commons.