{"id":141335,"date":"2025-05-29T12:03:17","date_gmt":"2025-05-29T12:03:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/141335\/"},"modified":"2025-05-29T12:03:17","modified_gmt":"2025-05-29T12:03:17","slug":"thugs-smash-up-jewish-owned-business-in-stamford-hill-the-jewish-chronicle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/141335\/","title":{"rendered":"Thugs smash up Jewish-owned business in Stamford Hill – The Jewish Chronicle"},"content":{"rendered":"

A Jewish-owned business in Stamford Hill was vandalised overnight on Wednesday, in what a community leader has described as a \u201ctraumatic antisemitic targeting\u201d. The Metropolitan Police are treating the incident as\u00a0\u201cracially aggravated criminal damage\u201d and have increased local patrols.<\/p>\n

The property company, located in the heart of the strictly Orthodox community\u00a0of north London, had its windows smashed, computers and furniture destroyed, and red paint thrown across the shopfront. The pavement outside was marked with the slogan \u201cDrop Elbit\u201d \u2013 an apparent reference to Israeli defence contractor Elbit Systems.<\/p>\n

In CCTV footage of the incident, two vandals dressed in black\u00a0approach\u00a0the business. One smashes\u00a0the shopfront with what appears to be a hammer, before the other sprays\u00a0red paint from a canister that says Palestine.<\/p>\n

\"CCTVCCTV filmed the two vandals attacking the store[Missing Credit]<\/a> <\/p>\n

The Stamford Hill business, situated less than 150 metres from the nearest synagogue, is owned by members of the strictly Orthodox Jewish community but has no connection to Israel, according to the local rabbi.<\/p>\n

Rabbi Herschel Gluck, president of Shomrim and a lifelong Stamford Hill resident, told the JC: \u201cThis should be treated as [an] antisemitic incident without any doubt. [The owners] are visibly Jewish; the people who run the business and this business itself have nothing to do with Israel.”<\/p>\n

The interior of the business was effected by the attack[Missing Credit]<\/a> <\/p>\n

He added: \u201cThis is pure antisemitism. The people have no connection to Israel at all. They [the vandals] are accusing this company of having a connection to an Israeli arms manufacturer, which is not true.\u201d<\/p>\n

Calling the attack \u201ca very disturbing development\u201d, Gluck said the owners were \u201cin shock\u201d and devastated when they saw the damage on Thursday morning.<\/p>\n

\u201cLook at the property, these people did a full monty on it, they didn\u2019t spare anything. They smashed up the shop, everything \u2013 including computer, tables, chairs \u2013 everything was destroyed,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

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A Jewish-owned business in north London was targeted in a “traumatic antisemitic” attack overnight. Windows smashed, red paint daubed and ‘Drop Elbit’ graffiti stamped on the pavement. The property company in Stamford Hill has no known connection to Israel. pic.twitter.com\/qvMceMqInF<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Jane (@janeprinsley) May 29, 2025<\/a>\n <\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Shomrim, a charity that provides security in Orthodox areas, was called as soon as the damage was discovered on Thursday morning and the Metropolitan Police were notified shortly afterwards. The force was seen gathering statements from locals and collecting evidence from the scene of the crime.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen something like this happens to a space that you own, that traumatises a person,\u201d Gluck added. \u201cIt is traumatic seeing scenes like that where a business has been targeted, perhaps wrongly.\u201d<\/p>\n

The police gathered bags of evidence at the scene of the incident[Missing Credit]<\/a> <\/p>\n

The attack bears similarity to an incident earlier this month in Prestwich, north Manchester, where another Jewish-owned business was vandalised<\/a> overnight to coincide with the anniversary of Israel\u2019s independence. In that case, the anti-Israel direct action group Palestine Action claimed responsibility.<\/p>\n

That incident also saw red paint thrown across the front of the building and the words \u201cHappy Nakba Day\u201d graffitied on an external wall.<\/p>\n

Palestine Action has not claimed responsibility for the Stamford Hill vandalism and the group has been approached by the JC for comment.<\/p>\n

A spokesperson for the Met\u00a0Police told the JC: \u201cOn Thursday, May 29 at 07:23hrs officers were called to two business premises on Stamford Hill, N16 which had been vandalised.<\/p>\n

\u201cEnquiries are ongoing and no arrests have been made at this stage. This incident is being treated as racially aggravated criminal damage.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe understand the concern this may cause members of the Jewish community. Officers are working with community leaders and patrols have increased across the local area.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnyone with information is asked to call 101 and quote CAD 1397\/29MAY. You can also provide information anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.\u201d<\/p>\n