The key facts
- Abdisamad Siad, 33, is charged with three counts of assault on Jewish women in Hackney
- The Metropolitan Police is treating the incident as a hate crime and has increased patrols
- He is also charged over an incident of grievous bodily harm in Islington on 16 October
Charges after attacks in Hackney
A 33-year-old man has been charged after attacks on three Jewish women in Hackney in east London. According to the Metropolitan Police, officers were called to the Clapton Common area at around 13:40 BST on Monday after reports that a man had been detained by Shomrim — a Jewish neighbourhood watch organisation — following attacks on the women. The victims received minor injuries. Police said they were treating the incident as a hate crime.
The accused and the court
Abdisamad Siad of Pilgrims Way in Islington is charged with three counts of assault by beating. He is due to appear at Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court. In addition, Siad has been charged with grievous bodily harm with intent over an unrelated attack on a woman believed to be known to him in the Islington area on 16 October.
Circumstances of the incident
CCTV footage released by Shomrim shows a man running up to a woman, briefly stopping and striking her twice. The organisation said on X that it had already been called earlier the same day after another 'visibly Jewish' woman reported being punched in the face on Clapton Common.
Police response
The Metropolitan Police said that after the incident it had increased patrols in the area and was working with leaders of the Jewish community to provide 'additional reassurance' to local residents.
Image source, Google Police were called to the Clapton Common area on Monday afternoon
