Man, 33, is charged after three Jewish women were attacked in Hackney - including a pram-pushing victim who was punched in the face

A 33-year-old man has been charged after three Jewish women were attacked in north London on Monday. 

Abdisamad Siad, of Pilgrims Way, Islington, north London, has been charged with three counts of assault by beating and is due to appear at Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court today. 

The alleged victims include a woman who was seen on CCTV pushing a pram down Upper Clapton Road in Stamford Hill, when a man suddenly pulled up beside her and punched her twice in the face. 

The man had been running down the road when he then backtracked after passing the woman, who was wearing traditional Jewish dress. 

In the video footage the woman flees after the assault, as several passersby rush after the man. 

Police said they were called to Clapton Common at around 1.40pm on Monday, following reports that a man had been detained by Shomrim, a voluntary neighbourhood watch organisation that runs patrols in the area. 

Shomrim posted the CCTV footage of the incident online, showing a man running up to a woman before pausing briefly and then punching her twice. 

The group said on X that it had already been called because another 'visibly Jewish' woman had reported being punched in the face on Clapton Common on Monday. 

Police arrived within minutes and detained a 33-year-old, who was charged today. 

It was one incident in a series of alleged anti-Semitic attacks which took place on Monday afternoon in Hackney, which saw the victims suffer minor injuries. 

The Metropolitan Police said police patrols have been increased in the area in the wake of the assaults, and have asked anyone with information to call 101 quoting the reference 3400/19OCT, or contact Crimestoppers to remain anonymous. 

Officers also appealed for any other victims to come forward. 

Siad was also separately charged with grievous bodily harm with intent, over an unrelated attack on a woman who is believed to be known to him in the Islington area on Friday, October 16. It is not being treated as an anti-Semitic incident and it is understood the events are unrelated. 

There has been an increase in anti-Semitic attacks on Britain's Jewish communities since the October 7 attacks in 2023 and Israel's subsequent actions in Gaza. 

The attacks, carried out by proscribed terror group Hamas, killed around 1,200 people in Israel and saw hundreds kidnapped as hostages. 

Israel's response has killed an estimated 80,000 Palestinians and has seen Gaza reduced to all but rubble. 

Research published this summer showed that the UK had seen the largest increase in anti-Semitism of any country with a major Jewish population outside of Israel. 

In the first six months of 2026, the number of anti-Semitic incidents reported rose by 21 per cent compared to 2025. 

In October last year there was a terror attack at Heaton Park synagogue in Manchester during Yom Kippur, in which Melvin Cravitz and Adrian Daulby were killed. 

Chief Inspector Erica Crawshaw said on Tuesday: 'This was an alarming and distressing incident and we are grateful to our partners in the Shomrim for detaining a suspect prior to the arrival of officers. 

'We have launched an investigation and would ask that anyone with information that could help police, or any victims who have not yet come forward, contact us as soon as possible. 

'Anti-Semitic behaviour and hate crime of any kind will not be tolerated. 

'We recognise the concern that this incident will have caused the Jewish community here in Hackney. We have increased patrols in the area and we are speaking to community leaders to provide further reassurance.'