Police release new images of men over antisemitic abuse at Hannukah party bus

Around 40 young Jewish people were celebrating Hanukkah on a bus in central London when a group of men swore at them and made obscene gestures.

Images of three men who police want to speak to after antisemitic abuse was directed at passengers on a Hannukah party bus in London’s Oxford Street (Metropolitan Police/PA)

Detectives investigating a “bigoted antisemitic attack” on a Hanukkah party bus have released new images of three men they want to speak to.

Scotland Yard said police were called at about 8pm on Monday November 29 to a report of a group of people shouting antisemitic abuse at passengers of a privately hired bus in London’s Oxford Street.

Around 40 young Jewish people were on the bus when a group of men swore, made obscene gestures and threw a shopping basket at them.

This was a bigoted antisemitic attack in the heart of London, seen by dozens of others, who stood by silently

Shneor Glitsenstein, Chabad Israeli Centre Golders Green

Shneor Glitsenstein, director of the Chabad Israeli Centre Golders Green, who was on the bus with the young people, said they had been attacked “for being Jewish”.

He said: “Let me be clear: on Monday evening we were attacked on the streets of London for being Jewish and celebrating Hanukkah.

“While our bus contained no references to Israel, we were clearly a Jewish group.

“The young men who surrounded us were not engaged in political protest; this was a bigoted antisemitic attack in the heart of London, seen by dozens of others, who stood by silently.”

Officers stopped the bus in Grosvenor Place to check on the welfare of the passengers and to confirm that nobody had been injured, a force spokesman said.

Detective Inspector Kevin Eade said: “Our investigation into this appalling incident continues and we are now in a position to release three clearer images of the men we would like to speak to.

“Despite extensive inquiries over the past week, we are yet to make any arrests; however, I am confident that somebody will recognise the people in these images, and I would urge anyone who does to contact us immediately.”

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 or tweet @MetCC quoting 6184/29Nov.

Alternatively, call the Charing Cross Hate Crime Unit on 07900 608 252 or email AWMailbox-.HateCrimeUnit@met.police.uk.

To contact police anonymously call independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.