A strictly Orthodox man was physically and verbally assaulted on Thursday night outside a synagogue.

According to Shomrim, the community volunteer security service, the attacker pushed his victim before shouting antisemitic slurs in a seemingly unprovoked incident outside a shul in Stamford Hill, north-east London.

Shomrim volunteers pursued the suspect and called police officers, who arrested him.

Barry Bard, Stamford Hill Shomrim co-ordinator, said: “This behaviour is totally unacceptable. Unfortunately antisemitic incidents are happening too often.

“Shomrim has recently facilitated many arrests, charges and successful prosecutions in relation to antisemitic hate crime incidents."

A police spokesperson said: “it was established that a 31-year-old man had been assaulted and antisemitic remarks were made towards him. He was not injured.

“The suspect, a 21-year-old man was found a short time later and stopped. He was arrested on suspicion of racially aggravated assault and was taken to an east London police station and has since been bailed pending further enquiries.

“Officers from the Community Safety Unit at Hackney are investigating.”