A 14-year-old girl has been rushed to hospital after being pelted with glass bottles in “an abhorrent hate crime” in Stamford Hill, a neighbourhood security service has said.
A group of young Jewish girls were on their way to a rehearsal on Monday evening when “around a dozen glass bottles and plates” were allegedly thrown at them by a man on a balcony at Woodberry Down Estate.
Neighbourhood watch group Shomrim, which protects the Jewish population in Stamford Hill, said the attack had “deeply shocked the community”.
It explained one of the bottles struck a teenage girl on her head and face, causing a significant haematoma and facial grazes from the shattered glass.
She was badly injured and rushed to Royal London Hospital by Hatzola Ambulance volunteers.
The group added in a post on X: “Shomrim are supporting the victims & their families whilst @MPSHackney investigate this abhorrent Hate Crime.”
Shomrim spokesperson Chaim Hochhauser told the Standard: “This premeditated attack has deeply shocked the community.
“The perpetrator appeared to have prepared the bottles and dishes in advance, targeting the girls due to their visibly Jewish appearance.
“The violence extended beyond the estate, with shattered glass reaching the school’s front gate, underscoring the deliberate nature of the assault.
“Shomrim continues to support the victim, her family, and the other girls affected by this traumatic event. The community hopes the police will swiftly apprehend the perpetrator and ensure justice is served for this abhorrent act of antisemitic violence.”
The Met Police said it was called at 7.44pm on Monday to Woodberry Down Estate in Hackney following reports of an assault.
The force said a group of schoolgirls had been walking through the estate when a bottle was thrown from the upper floor of a building.
It explained that a “girl was struck on the head and was taken to hospital. Her injuries have since been assessed as non-life changing”.
A Met Police spokesperson continued: “Officers attended the scene to carry out initial enquiries but were unable to locate the suspect. An investigation is ongoing.
“The incident is being treated as a potential antisemitic hate crime.”
The London Ambulance Service confirmed that the Jewish ambulance service Hatzola had attended the scene.
Anyone who witnessed the incident can call 101, providing the reference 6966/26NOV or by contacting Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
