CAA offers £10,000 reward for information leading to conviction of Oxford Street Chanukah incident perpetrators after police admit failure and close investigation with no arrests
The Metropolitan Police Service has closed its investigation into the appalling Oxford Street Chanukah attack last year, in which a group of identifiably Jewish young people celebrating the Jewish festival were racially abused and attacked by a group of men.
The incident was filmed by passengers on the bus and appeared to show a group of men hitting the vehicle with their hands and then their shoes, spitting on it, trying to break windows and performing Nazi salutes.
The men appeared to be of Middle Eastern heritage and hitting an object of antipathy with one’s shoes is common in that region.
The teenagers were on their way to a candle lighting ceremony in central London to celebrate Chanukah.
Campaign Against Antisemitism and others publicised the video footage and called on the police to investigate, and we were also in contact with the victims.
The police confirmed last year that they were treating the incident as a hate crime, but it has now been revealed that they closed the investigation in July after making no arrests. This was despite footage of the racist attack going viral on social media, leading large numbers of people to see the assailants’ faces.
In a statement, the Metropolitan Police Service said: “On 29th November 2021, officers responded to calls about antisemitic abuse being directed at passengers on a private bus in Oxford Street by a group on the pavement outside. The bus left the scene of the incident to avoid further confrontation and officers met it nearby. The suspects had also left the area and could not be located.
“Video footage of the incident was shared on social media and we issued an appeal for anyone who recognised those involved to come forward. Two further appeals were issued which included photographs to help with identification.
“The only names provided in response to those appeals have been eliminated from our enquiries. The identity of those involved is still unknown. A decision was taken in July to close the case.
“Hate crime of any kind is unacceptable. Should new information come to light that provides a realistic line of enquiry, we will of course be willing to carry out further investigation.”
Campaign Against Antisemitism is now offering a reward of £10,000 for information that leads to the conviction of any of the perpetrators in the attack.
A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “Shocking footage of an abhorrent attack on a bus carrying Jewish passengers at the heart of London during the festival of Chanukah last year was widely broadcast on social media and on the news. Despite the video going viral and all the resources at its disposal, the Metropolitan Police Service failed to make any arrests and quietly closed the investigation in July.
“If even high-profile hate crimes such as these are not solved and the perpetrators brought to justice, what hope do the many other antisemitic crimes against Jews have of being satisfactorily investigated? Indeed, the revelation that the investigation was closed comes at the same time as the Home Office has announced that last year police forces recorded the highest number of antisemitic crimes yet.
“We are offering a £10,000 reward for information leading to the conviction of any of the perpetrators of this heinous attack. Only then will antisemites understand that abusing Jewish people is not without cost.”
If you have any information relating to the attack, please contact [email protected] or call us on 0330 822 0321, either with an anonymous tip or leaving your contact details if you wish to be eligible for the reward.
Campaign Against Antisemitism’s analysis of Home Office statistics shows that an average of over five hate crimes are directed at Jews every single day in England and Wales, with Jews more than five times likelier to be targets of hate crimes than any other faith group.
