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Attacker shouted 'F*** the Jews' at teen with kippah

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A victim of an antisemitic assault has said attacks on young Jews are getting worse.

The 18-year-old former Hasmonean pupil, who did not want to be named, broke his knuckles and had his head slashed after defending a group of Jewish schoolboys.

The victim had been driving through Golders Green, north west London, when he saw three young teenagers from his synagogue surrounded by older youths on bicycles.

He parked his car in Hodford Road, where he was set upon by two of the youths.

The victim, from Hendon, said: "They went into a shop and the next thing I knew, one was running towards me with a bottle.

"He started swinging the bottle at me and hit me on the back of the head. There was a big cut and a lot of blood.

"They were shouting 'Allahu Akbar' [Allah is the greatest] and 'F*** the Jews'. I was wearing a kippah, as were the other boys. I was totally shocked."

A member of the public called the police, who arrived within four minutes. The suspects, described as being 18, one black and the other of Asian appearance, made off on their bicycles.

"I have experienced this before," the victim said. "There are a lot of antisemitic fights between young people. I have had a brick thrown at me and been punched before.

"Sometimes people will call or text to say they are in a fight and need some help.

"This was different because I have never been bleeding before. I feel like the situation is getting worse. I would still defend people if they needed help, though."

A spokesman for CST said: "It is bad enough that such an attack should occur, but it is even worse to be told that it is not a one-off event. It is vital that the community continues to report such incidents to police or CST."

Meanwhile, new figures have shown antisemitic attacks increased by more than 50 per cent during June, in the aftermath of the flotilla incident.

There were 74 incidents in June 2010, compared to 40 two years earlier, according to the CST.

Figures also showed that antisemitic incidents fell in the first six months of 2010 by 50 per cent, compared to the first six months of 2009 in which there were considerably more incidents due to the reaction to Operation Cast Lead.

But the 310 incidents so far this year is a 12 per cent increase on the 277 incidents recorded in the first half of 2008.

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