‘Bomb the Jews’ shouted at Jewish youth netball team in Barnet

Jewish schoolgirls were targeted with shouts to “bomb the Jews” by a group of youths as they left a netball match in Barnet, north London, on Monday evening.

The Community Security Trust (CST) is supporting the victims of what it called an “appalling incident of unprovoked antisemitic abuse”.

A Jewish school netball team were leaving Art Pioneer Academy after dark after playing a scheduled match on Monday when a group of children started to shout at them outside the school gates.

One of the Jewish schoolgirls was filming on her smartphone when a youth shouted “Bomb the Jews” at the team.

In the video, the girl is audibly shocked and can be heard saying, “They just said bomb the Jews,” while another comments, “What the actual f***”.

The incident was reported to the CST, who urged the school to “investigate it thoroughly”, and the Metropolitan Police, who are investigating. 

The school’s principal, Su Reddy, said they were working with the police to investigate the allegations. “Ark Pioneer Academy is aware of reports that an incident took place after school yesterday,” she said. “We take any allegations of this nature very seriously. We are working with the police and other agencies to respond.”

She added: “Our school does not tolerate hate speech, and we are acting swiftly in line with our policies and procedures to investigate the matter.” 

CST said: “This appalling incident of unprovoked antisemitic abuse involving school students leaving a netball tournament has been reported to CST and we are supporting the victims. We urge the school where this incident took place to investigate it thoroughly, and ask anyone who witnessed the incident to contact CST or police.”

Member of Parliament for Chipping Barnet Dan Tomlinson said: “I am appalled to learn of the incident at Ark Pioneer Academy. I've been in touch with the police, the CST, and community leaders, and would urge anyone with relevant information to contact the police. There is no place for antisemitism in Barnet. I will always stand with Barnet's Jewish community.”

The Met police said: “A third party report was made to police at 18:43hrs on Monday, November 11, regarding an allegation of antisemitic abuse filmed outside a school in Westcombe Drive, Barnet and then posted on social media.

“It is alleged that a group of children shouted verbal abuse at a group of Jewish children. No arrests have been made. Enquiries continue.”

The attack comes after high profile antisemitic instances in Europe - with violence in the Dutch capital last Thursday night and subsequent reports of incidents in other European cities.