Man subjected to antisemitic abuse after pro-Palestinian protest

Duche Sorotzkin says he reported the abuse to the Met Police

A Jewish man has said he was the victim of antisemitic abuse after a pro-Palestinian demonstration on Saturday.

Duche Sorotzkin told BBC News he was at Trafalgar Square when he was subjected to abuse by a group of men and women who had been to the protest.

Two women in the group allegedly ripped his Yarmulke off and attempted to provoke him with it.

The Met Police said such abuse was "absolutely unacceptable" and it was investigating the incident.

Mr Sorotzkin, a Jewish food industry employee from Hackney, found himself in central London on a Saturday evening after the protests.

He said: "I was just looking around, sitting, minding my own business, messaging, listening to music, enjoying the sights."

"As I was walking towards the Tube station [...] a group of thugs, I'm not sure of the number exactly, started shouting at me: 'Palestine, Palestine, Palestine'."

This is when he said two women took the Yarmulke, or skullcap as it is also known, from his head.

"She runs off with it, and all the others find this hysterical, like new levels," he said.

"All while the others are still shouting abuse at me, with one of them saying, 'You're killing babies, how are you killing babies?'"

'Daily abuse'

Mr Sorotzkin said it was not the first time he has been subjected to antisemitic abuse but that it had increased since the conflict between Hamas and Israel broke out last month.

He said such incidents had become part of the "daily schedule" for some Jewish people in London.

There has been a rise in reported antisemitic and Islamophobic hate crimes since the conflict broke out.

A Met spokesperson said: "No-one should be subjected to hate because of their faith or race.

"We are listening to and working with London communities and partners to make sure they feel safe in light of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas."

Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to [e-mail]