A man has been arrested after allegedly threatening Jewish passengers - including children - on a London bus and telling them they should "go in the gas chambers." The suspect, a 50-year-old man who claimed to be carrying a knife, is accused of launching a torrent of antisemitic abuse aboard a TfL 254 bus in Hackney on Thursday afternoon.
Witnesses said the man targeted visibly Jewish passengers, allegedly threatening to kill Jewish children and shouting: "Shame Hitler didn't kill you." The incident unfolded on Upper Clapton Road at about 3.50pm, sparking panic among passengers before the driver stopped the bus and activated an emergency alarm.
The north-east London Jewish volunteer security group, Shomrim, said members of the public intervened before volunteers arrived and detained the suspect until police reached the scene.
A Shomrim spokesperson said: "The bus driver stopped the bus and activated the emergency alarm, while members of the public intervened and assisted."
The spokesperson added: "Shomrim volunteers attended swiftly, detained the suspect, who was subsequently arrested by Hackney police and British Transport Police."
The Metropolitan Police confirmed the 50-year-old had been arrested on suspicion of making threats to kill and a Section 4A public order offence.
A Met spokesperson said: "Police were called at 15:51hrs on Thursday, 7 May following reports that a man on a bus on Upper Clapton Road was making threats."
The spokesperson continued: "Officers attended and arrested a 50-year-old man on suspicion of making threats to kill and an offence under Section 4A of the Public Order Act. He remains in police custody. Officers searched the male and no weapon was found. The Met takes incidents of this nature incredibly seriously. The incident is being treated as an antisemitic hate crime and our enquiries continue."
Police appealed for witnesses to come forward quoting CAD 5358/7MAY.
Siwan Hayward, TfL's Director of Security, Policing and Enforcement, said: "No-one should ever have to fear or experience abuse when using our network. We take a zero-tolerance approach to all forms of hate crime, and work with the police to pursue anyone who is abusive to our customers or staff."
The arrest in Hackney came less than 24 hours after another man was detained in Salford following alleged threats against Jews in the city's Heaton Park area.
A Greater Manchester Police spokesperson said: "A man in his 60s allegedly shouted: 'Jew leave the country, and we'll make it like the Nazis in the gas chambers,' while also threatening to 'take knives and cut your throat.' He was arrested on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence."
The incidents come amid heightened concern over antisemitic attacks in Britain. Jewish communities in north London, including Golders Green, have reported a sharp rise in antisemitic incidents and verbal abuse in recent months, leading to increased patrols and community fear.
Counter Terrorism Policing is also currently investigating an arson attack at a former synagogue in Tower Hamlets earlier this week after a fire was deliberately started outside the building's gates.
Detective Chief Superintendent Brittany Clarke said: "The attack would be of little comfort to the Jewish community in Tower Hamlets, Hackney and beyond."
