A pregnant woman has had a pillowcase thrown over her head earlier than being punched repeatedly in the stomach throughout an assault in north London.
The sufferer, 20, who is claimed to be a 27-weeks-pregnant Jewish woman, fled the scene however was taken to hospital for therapy for minor accidents after the assault, the Metropolitan police mentioned.
CCTV footage captured final Thursday night and shared by the Shomrim neighbourhood watch group reveals the incident unfolding. A person dressed in a darkish hooded jacket, darkish trousers and white trainers approached the woman from behind in Stamford Hill.
He was carrying a purchasing trolley, which he left a number of metres behind him, earlier than shifting ahead and attempting to place a pillowcase over the woman’s head after which repeatedly punching her. He then ran away.
Shomrim, which later deleted the footage, mentioned on Twitter: “Pregnant woman and her unborn child survive a horrendous assault after a male suspect attacked her from behind, positioned a pillow over her head and punched her in her stomach a number of instances in a vicious unprovoked assault.”
The Met mentioned detectives have been investigating the assault in Manor Road at about 6.30pm on Thursday. “The sufferer, a 20-year-old woman, knowledgeable officers that she had been approached from behind by the suspect, who put a pillowcase over her head earlier than assaulting her,” it mentioned. “The woman was taken to hospital for therapy for minor accidents.
“Officers are finishing up plenty of inquiries and are reviewing CCTV cameras in the native space. There have been no arrests and inquiries proceed.”
David Lammy described the assault as a “hateful assault on a pregnant Jewish woman”. He added that it was “completely grotesque”.
The shadow justice secretary mentioned: “As a society, now we have to take action way more to sort out antisemitism in addition to violence in opposition to girls.”
Rabbi Herschel Gluck, the president of Shomrim, described the assault as “violent and brutal”. He informed reporters the sufferer was “deeply traumatised”.
Dave Rich, the director of coverage on the Community Security Trust, mentioned it was an “extraordinarily distressing assault and we might advise anybody who is aware of something to contact the police”.
Police mentioned inquiries have been going down to ascertain whether or not the assault was racially motivated.
The Board of Deputies of British Jews mentioned: “We are extraordinarily disturbed by the vile assault on a pregnant Jewish woman in Stamford Hill. We hope that the perpetrator is swiftly caught and faces justice.
“The attacker’s face was caught on video and we urge anybody who might concentrate on his identification to contact the police.”
Anyone with data is requested to name police on 101 quoting reference Cad 6517/18Mar.