London police arrest 4 over antisemitic abuse amid Middle East conflict

London police announced Monday that they have arrested four people for antisemitic abuse amid the current Israeli-Palestinian conflict in the Middle East. 

Metropolitan Police said that they received reports of people shouting antisemitic abuse from a vehicle traveling through the St. John’s Wood area on Sunday. 

Officers then traced the vehicle and deployed a helicopter, before police ultimately found and stopped the vehicle. 

We are aware of a video appearing to show anti-Semitic language being shouted from a convoy of cars in the St John’s Wood area this afternoon. Officers are carrying out urgent enquiries to identify those responsible. This sort of behaviour will not be tolerated.

— Metropolitan Police Events (@MetPoliceEvents) May 16, 2021

“This behaviour was utterly shocking and will not be tolerated. I understand that this would have caused considerable concern within the community and we have arranged extra patrols in the St John’s Wood and Golders Green areas this evening,” Metropolitan Police Superintendent Jo Edwards said in the statement.  

London Mayor Sadiq Khan condemned the recent abuse on Twitter, writing that “Hate crimes are inexcusable and have no place in our city.”

Londoners can expect to see high visibility police patrols, and @metpoliceuk have been working closely with @CST_UK. My team and I will continue to monitor the situation closely. 2/2

— Sadiq Khan (@SadiqKhan) May 16, 2021

The four men were arrested on suspicion of racially aggravated public order offenses and taken into custody where they still remain, according to the statement.