A hate crime probe has been launched after two Jewish students were threatened by an irate van driver, who they feared would ram them as they walked to prayer services.
The pair of University of Leeds students, aged 20 and 21, were targeted by a ‘man in his 50s’ who wound down his van window and yelled ‘you Jewish b***ards, I’m going to beat the s*** out of you’.
The incident took place on Saturday morning as the two men were walking to Hillel House and has sparked outrage within the Jewish community.
When one of the students warned the driver they would call the police, he allegedly manoeuvred his vehicle to face them in a ‘threatening position’.
The students – who did not want to be named – said the man had asked them if they were Jewish before launching into a foul-mouthed tirade. Describing the attack, the men told the Jewish Chronicle ‘It looked like he was about to drive right into us… We genuinely thought he was going to ram into us for being Jewish.’
The two Jewish students were attacked on their way to a prayer service (File Photo)
People attend a Campaign Against Antisemitism rally outside New Scotland Yard in central London, amid a surge of nationwide attacks against Jewish people
Terrified, the pair ran away ‘as fast as they could’ while shouting before hiding behind a wall for 10 minutes.
Hillel house, which has a synagogue as well as space in which to study, was vandalised with ‘Free Palestine’ graffiti on Thursday night. Police have since been stationed outside the building during events to protect Jews inside.
On February 9, Rabbi Zecharia Deutsch received ‘threats to his safety and that of his family and Hillel House was attacked’, the University of Leeds said.
It added: ‘We totally condemn the antisemitic abuse and threats directed towards the chaplain and his family – such attacks on any individual are unacceptable and will not be tolerated from members of the public or our University community.’
The latest attack against the two students has prompted outrage from the Jewish community nationwide.
A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism branded the attacking ‘shocking’ and called for tougher action from the authorities.
‘Leeds University campus has seen a raft of incidents over the past week, and there are serious questions about whether the institution is doing enough to protect Jewish students and their rights,’ a spokewoman for the group told MailOnline.
‘From London to Leeds, Jewish people are now being violently threatened and attacked on our streets.
Hillel house, which has a synagogue as well as space in which to study, was vandalised with ‘Free Palestine ‘ graffiti on Thursday night
Protestors march along Oxford Street as they take part in a National Demonstration against military action in Gaza
‘If you want to know why nearly 70 per cent of British Jews say they are less likely to show visible signs of their Judaism right now, this incident shows why.
‘Jewish people must be made to feel safe in public without fear of abuse and physical assault.’
The Union of Jewish Students said: ‘This incident is sadly just one of many examples of Jewish students being targeted, abused and harassed in places that should be safe for them.’
It comes as shocking figures today revealed that British Jews have suffered an ‘explosion in hatred’ in the wake of the Hamas terror attack.
The number of anti-Semitic incidents jumped 147 per cent last year to record levels, with a massive surge in the wake of the Hamas atrocities on October 7, a report said.
The Community Security Trust, a charity, recorded 4,103 instances of anti-Semitism, up from 1,662 in 2022. It included 266 violent assaults on Jews, up 96 per cent year-on-year and the highest figure since the CST started gathering data 40 years ago.
Inspector Richard Armstead, of West Yorkshire Police, said officers are investigating the latest incident in Leeds.
‘This kind of hate will not be tolerated and I would like to reassure the local community that we take reports of this nature seriously,’ Insp Armstead told the Telegraph.
A spokesman for the University of Leeds said: ‘We are deeply shocked at reports that a van driver abused and threatened two of our Jewish students.
‘The University is providing welfare support to the students concerned and will assist West Yorkshire Police in their investigation of this hate crime.
‘The University has detailed measures in place to safeguard our students and continues to adapt and increase our support for them.
‘Our campus security team and West Yorkshire Police are increasing visible foot and vehicle patrols of the area, as we continue to strengthen our partnership with the Community Security Trust, as well as West Yorkshire Police, to ensure our community feels safe.’
