A 33-year-old man has been arrested following reports that three Jewish women, including one pushing a baby in a pram, were assaulted in north-east London.
The suspect was arrested on suspicion of racially aggravated common assault, while the three women are understood to have sustained minor injuries.
Police are investigating the attack as a suspected antisemitic hate crime and have stepped up patrols in the local area to reassure residents.
The 33-year-old has also been arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm in relation to a separate incident in Islington on Friday.
He remains in police custody.
Ch Insp Erica Crawshaw said it had been "an alarming and distressing incident" and thanked Shomrim volunteers for detaining a suspect before officers arrived.
"We recognise the concern that this incident will have caused the Jewish community here in Hackney," she said.
"We have increased patrols in the area and we are speaking to community leaders to provide further reassurance."
The Met has appealed for anyone with information, or anyone else who believes they may have been assaulted, to come forward.