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Rabbi's eight-year-old son dies after being hit by car

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The son of a Chasidic rabbi has died after he was hit by a neighbour's car as he reportedly ran away from fireworks.

Elchonon Kohn, from Hackney, east London, died on Sunday night from injuries sustained in the collision.

A pupil at a Satmar school in the area, the eight-year-old was said to have been frightened by fireworks launched last Wednesday.

He ran across a quiet residential street, where he was hit by a black Seat car driven by a neighbour, an Orthodox man in his 20s.

Another neighbour, who wished to remain anonymous, described the incident as "tragic". She said: "All the Jewish boys and girls in this street know each other. It is very upsetting."

At least 500 people attended Elchonon's funeral on Monday at the Adath Yisroel cemetery in Enfield.

One mourner said the boy's parents - Rabbi and Rebbetzin Yaakov Yosef Kohn, of the Skver community - were distraught.

"It is very tragic, there were so many people at the funeral. This is such a close community," the woman said.

Another mourner said people were "shocked" and "grieving".

A police spokeswoman confirmed that the driver had been arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving. He was bailed until later this month while police continue their inquiries into the collision.

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