Watch: Two men threaten to put Jewish man in car boot

Police have launched an investigation after two men were seen threatening to put a Jewish pedestrian into the boot of a car.

The man appears to have been targeted by the group at around 5.30pm on Friday in Stamford Hill, north London.

Footage of the incident on Moundfield Road shows a black Volkswagen Cross coming to a stop in the middle of the road before two men exit.

A Jewish man, who is on the phone, backs away as one of the suspects wearing a bright orange top and beige shorts attempts to grab him. Meanwhile, the other man who emerged from the vehicle, is seen opening the boot of the car.

However the pair quickly return to the stationary car before driving away.

Shomrim, a north London neighbourhood watch group which monitors areas with large Jewish communities, posted the clip on social media.

The group called the incident an “attempted kidnap” and wrote on X, formerly Twitter: “Jewish male threatened by four males who demanded he gets into the boot of their car.”

The Metropolitan Police confirmed it was aware of the video and that it was investigating the incident.

Officers said one of the men allegedly told the victim to get into the boot of the car, shortly before driving off. The force said no arrests had been made.

Rise in anti-Semitism

It comes after a rise in anti-Semitic abuse in Britain following the Oct 7 attack on Israel by Hamas last year.

The Metropolitan Police came under fire last week after one of its officers threatened to arrest an “openly Jewish” man for walking in central London during a pro-Palestine protest.

Gideon Falter, the chief executive of the Campaign Against Anti-Semitism, had just left a synagogue and was wearing a kippah skullcap.

Sir Mark Rowley, the Met Police Commissioner, faced calls to resign after he then defended the officer in question and described their conduct as “professional”.

Investigation under way

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: “An investigation is under way after a reported kidnapping attempt of a male in Stamford Hill.

“At around 5.24pm on Friday, April 26 the victim – a Jewish male – was walking on Moundfield Road, N16 when a car pulled up beside him and two males got out of the vehicle.

“The victim was approached by one of the males and allegedly told the victim to get into the boot of the car, shortly before driving off.

“The incident was reported to the police and an investigation was launched by officers based in Hackney.

“We are aware of a video being shared online and this will form part of our enquiries. We are in contact with the Shomrim and our enquiries are ongoing. No arrests have been made at this time.”

Shomrim was contacted for comment.