TWO men have been arrested for grievous bodily harm after a rabbi was beaten up outside his synagogue in a "religiously aggravated assault."
Rabbi Rafi Goodwin was yesterday beaten up near Chigwell synagogue in Essex by two thugs who ambushed his car and shouted anti-Semitic slurs, cops said.
Two men from Ilford, aged 18 and 25, have been arrested by police this afternoon on suspicion of grievous bodily harm with intent.
Police officers raced to the scene on Limes Avenue shortly after 1.15pm yesterday following reports of the religiously-aggravated assault.
The religious leader was hospitalised after being assaulted with an "unknown item."
He also had his phone stolen after the ordeal.
The two men are in custody following the assault – while police are engaging in local Jewish communities to provide reassurance and updates following on from the incident.
Essex police said: "Two people have been arrested in connection with a religiously-aggravated assault in Chigwell.
"It was reported a man had been assaulted in Limes Avenue shortly after 1.15pm yesterday (Sunday 16 May).
"It was reported he had been attacked with an unknown item following a verbal altercation.
"He required hospital treatment and his phone was stolen.
TWO MEN ARRESTED
"Two men from Ilford, aged 18 and 25 were arrested this afternoon on suspicion of GBH with intent. They are currently in custody."
Chief Superintendent Stuart Hooper said: "We know this is a very important time – a time for communities to come together, to be around each other and celebrate.
"We do not want anyone to feel that they cannot do that safely.
“Officers have spent the day speaking with the Jewish community to provide reassurance.
“At this time we do not believe this incident is related to events taking place overseas or incidents which have taken place elsewhere in the country.”
Rabbi Moshe Freedman, the synagogue’s security officer, yesterday tweeted: “Please pray for my dear friend and colleague Rabbi Rafi Goodwin who has been brutally attacked this morning near to his synagogue in Chigwell.”
The attack happened on the same day that a convoy blasting “f*** the Jews, rape their daughters” drove through a North London street in scenes condemned by Boris Johnson as “shameful”.
Footage emerged yesterday which showed anti-Semitic slurs being blared out of a vehicle driving along St John’s Wood. Four men have been arrested on suspicion of racially aggravated public order offences and remain in police custody.
There is no suggestion it is linked to the alleged attack on Rabbi Goodwin.
Tensions have flared as Israel launched air strikes on Gaza targeting Hamas militants amid some of the most vicious fighting in years.
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