Man arrested after ‘shouting shame Hitler didn’t kill you’ on London bus

A man has been arrested over a suspected antisemitic hate crime after threats were made against Jewish passengers on a bus in east London.

The incident unfolded on board the bus number 254 in Hackney this afternoon when a man began shouting abuse and threats.

He reportedly shouted ‘Shame Hitler didn’t kill you’ and ‘you should all go in the gas chambers,’ Shomrim, London’s Jewish volunteer security patrol service, said.

The man is said to have threatened to kill Jewish children and claimed to have a knife.

The bus driver hit the emergency button after the incident at the Jessam Avenue bus stop on Upper Clapton Road.

Members of the public also rushed to intervene, Shomrim said, thanking the driver and eyewitnesses for their actions.

A 50-year-old man was arrested shortly after on suspicion of making threats to kill.

A Metropolitan Police spokesperson told Metro: ‘Police were called at 15:51hrs on Thursday, 7 May following reports that a man on a bus on Upper Clapton Road was making threats.

‘Officers attended and arrested a 50-year-old man on suspicion of making threats to kill and an offence under Section 4A of the Public Order Act.

‘He remains in police custody.

‘Officers searched the male and no weapon was found.

‘The Met takes incidents of this nature incredibly seriously. The incident is being treated as an antisemitic hate crime and our enquiries continue.

‘Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101, quoting CAD 5358/7MAY or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.’

Siwan Hayward, TfL’s director of security, policing and enforcement, told Metro: ‘We are absolutely appalled by this report. No-one should ever have to fear or experience abuse when using our network.

‘We take a zero-tolerance approach to all forms of hate crime, and work with the police to pursue anyone who is abusive to our customers or staff. 

‘We are supporting the police with their investigation, alongside the bus operator, who’ll supply footage from the CCTV cameras, which all buses are equipped with. We encourage anyone who experienced or witnessed this incident to contact the police.’

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