Protests at Orthodox Jewish journalist’s home in NYC following arrest of anti-lockdown activist

Police formed a barrier outside Jacob Kornbluh's Brooklyn home after more than 100 people gathered

A group of anti-lockdown protesters gathered at a journalist’s home in New York City on Sunday following the arrest of an Orthodox Jewish activist who allegedly incited a mob to attack him.

Crowds stood outside the Brooklyn home of Jacob Kornbluh, who is also Orthodox, and chanted “no Heshy, no peace,” while one person yelled into a bullhorn, the New York Post reported. Around 100 people were present and police responded to protect the building.

Mr Kornbluh thanked people for their support on Sunday, tweeting: “Ty folks. I love you all.”

The demonstration comes after Harold “Heshy” Tischler, a city council candidate, was arrested in connection with the assault of Mr Kornbluh in the Borough Park neighbourhood last week.

Mr Kornbluh, a reporter for Jewish Insider, said that he was attacked by an angry group of protesters “ordered” by Mr Tischler at a demonstration against coronavirus restrictions last Wednesday.

The journalist was reporting on the second night of protests by Orthodox Jews in Borough Park when a mob chased after him calling him a “Nazi” and “Hitler”.

“I was just brutally assaulted, hit in the head, and kicked at by an angry crowd of hundreds of community members of the Boro Park protest — while yelling at me “Nazi” and “Hitler” —after Heshy Tischler recognised me and ordered the crowd to chase me down the street,” Mr Kornbluh tweeted.

Mr Tischler was taken into custody at his home in Borough Park and charged with unlawful imprisonment and inciting a riot, The Post reported.

Mr Tischler’s lawyer, Sara Shulevitz, told the outlet on Sunday that they believe the arrest was politically motivated.

“He is not guilty and this is a politically motivated arrest and the truth will come out,” Ms Shulevitz said, ahead of Mr Tischler’s arraignment.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and Governor Andrew Cuomo imposed restrictions on areas of Brooklyn and Queens following rising coronavirus cases, in which nine neighborhoods has a testing positivity rate of more than three per cent over a seven-day period..

Schools and businesses have been closed, while "houses of worship may remain open at 25% capacity, up to a maximum of 10 people, whichever is fewer" for those in red zones.

Local Hasidic leaders have spoken out against the rules and accused Governor Cuomo of singling out Jewish people.