Arrests made in connection with attack on rabbi in Essex brentwoodlive.co.uk - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from brentwoodlive.co.uk Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
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image captionThe victim, named locally as Rabbi Rafi Goodwin, had head injuries as a result of the attack outside the synagogue on Limes Avenue in Chigwell
A rabbi has needed hospital treatment after he was assaulted in a cowardly attack outside his synagogue.
Essex Police responded to reports of a religiously-aggravated assault on a man in his 30s in Limes Avenue, Chigwell, just after 13:15 BST on Sunday.
The victim has been named locally as Rabbi Rafi Goodwin from the Chigwell & Hainault United Synagogue.
Two teenagers are reported to have spoken about his religion in a derogatory way and assaulted him.
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A group of men who shouted anti-Semitic abuse while driving through a Jewish community in North London were part of a convoy that travelled 200 miles from Bradford, it was reported today, as police stepped up patrols at synagogues and Sadiq Khan said there was no excuse for racism.
Onlookers were left horrified after the passengers yelled: F the Jews. F all of them. F their mothers, f their daughters and show your support for Palestine. Rape their daughters and we have to send a message like that. Please do it for the poor children in Gaza.
Mr Khan, who was recently re-elected as Mayor of London, told BBC Radio 4 s Today programme this morning: Many of us feel quite strongly about what s happened in Israel and Gaza, what we can t do is use that as an excuse for any kind of anti-Semitism or hate crime.
By Lewis Berrill @LewisBerrill Chief reporter - east London and west Essex
Rabbi Rafi Goodwin was attacked in Limes Avenue, Chigwell. Photo: Google Maps/Chigwell Synagogue A rabbi was attacked yesterday in what police have labelled a ‘religiously-aggravated assault’. Chigwell and Hainault Synagogue rabbi Rafi Goodwin was attacked in Limes Avenue, Chigwell, at about 1.15pm on Sunday, May 16. Police have said anti-Semitic language was used during the attack, however the Jewish News and Jewish Chronicle have reported the rabbi was not targeted in retaliation to recent events in the Middle East and that it was a road rage incident. Two teenagers reportedly stepped out in front rabbi Rafi Goodwin’s car while he was driving and shouted anti-Semitic abuse before damaging his vehicle.
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The assault took place outside Chigwell and Hainault Synagogue in Chigwell.
The rabbi, who was born in Leeds and attended Leeds Grammar School, was attacked with an unknown object and his phone was stolen after he got out of the car.
“Detectives are progressing their investigation following reports of a religiously-aggravated assault in Chigwell,” said a police spokeswoman.
“The two boys – believed to be aged between 15 and 18 – are believed to have left the scene on foot.
“They have both been described as being of Asian ethnicity, one was 5ft 9ins tall and wore his hair in an Afro-style and the other was described as being 5ft 7ins tall.