Police probe claims London buses refused to stop for Jewish children

Police and transport chiefs are probing claims London buses refused to allow Jewish schoolchildren on board. 

The reports triggered outrage among the capital's Jewish population and sparked calls from Conservatives for London Mayor Sadiq Khan to launch his own probe into alleged antisemitism.

The Metropolitan Police and Transport for London (TfL) have confirmed they are looking into two reported incidents, which occurred in Stamford Hill and Hackney last week. 

In one incident on November 26, it's claimed several Jewish schoolboys were signalling for a bus to stop in Egerton Road in Stamford Hill, north London shortly after 8am.

It's alleged the driver of the 76 bus, which was heading towards Waterloo, initially slowed down but then continued without stopping.

Were YOU on one of the buses? Please email tom.cotterill@mailonline.co.uk 

The Met Police said that several passengers were reportedly encouraging the driver's alleged actions  - while also making vile antisemitic remarks.

Three days later on November 29, a similar incident was said to have taken place in Ravensdale Road in Hackney.

READ MORE: How London bus passenger hurled vile anti-Semitic abuse in sickening Armistice Day incident after married couple were overheard discussing McDonald's chips - before have-a-go heroes bravely intervened

On this occasion, a 13-year-old Jewish girl reported her bus had initially slowed down after several Jewish boys put their hands out for it to stop.

However, it was claimed the driver of the 318 service then accelerated and refused to let them on. A non-Jewish person was then permitted on board further down the road.

A Met Police spokesperson said of the two incidents: 'It is alleged that the drivers slowed while approaching bus stops where children were waiting, before speeding up without stopping.

'On both occasions it is suggested that the children were obviously Jewish based on their appearance.

'It is alleged that during [one of the two] incidents, the other passengers on the bus made antisemitic remarks in support of the driver's actions.'

News of the allegations sparked an urgent call from Keith Prince, City Hall Conservatives transport spokesman, for Mr Khan to launch his own probe.

It comes amid a spike in antisemitic incidents in London since the outbreak of war between Israel and Hamas on October 7, which saw a 1,353 per cent increase in October compared to the same month last year.

In his open letter to the Mayor, Mr Prince said: 'Antisemitism has no place in our great, multi-cultural city. It is reassuring to read that the Met Police are investigating but can I please seek your assurance that these alleged incidents will also be investigated as a matter of urgency by Transport for London and that appropriate action will be taken

'Can you also please confirm that London bus drivers have been reminded of their obligations to treat all passengers equally and without discrimination?'

MailOnline has approached Mr Khan's office for comment.  

Responding to the claims, a TFL spokesperson said: 'We do not tolerate any form of discrimination on our network and take any reports of this extremely seriously.

'We are investigating these reports and would urge anyone who has experienced discrimination, or has information about any incidents, to report this to us or the police so that it can be investigated.'

News of the alleged incidents sparked outrage within London's Jewish neighbourhood watch group Shomrim. 

Chaim Hochhauser, chief executive of Shomrim, described 'children terrified to go home from school or use public transport', telling the Independent: 'We are talking about kids waiting at bus stops to go onto buses. Bus drivers see the Jewish people waiting for buses and they say, 'No, you are not getting on,' and drive off.

'It's happening all over – at supermarkets and clothes stores, they say, 'We are not serving you Jewish people'. We are seeing it all over London, and it's unfair. Why should we suffer like this? Our children don't know what is happening in the Middle East, they don't have TVs, it's not their fault.'

Shaye Fischer, from the group and chair of the Springfield Ward Panel in Hackney, was 'deeply disturbed' by the report, telling the Jewish Chronicle: 'This unacceptable conduct includes denying them boarding and ignoring their subjection to racial abuse.

'Such actions reflect a worrying trend of discrimination within our public transport system.'

Those with information are urged to call police on 101 using the reference 4606/26NOV in relation to the incident on November 26 or 6372/29NOV for the November 29 incident.

A spokesperson for the Mayor of London said: 'The Mayor is clear that there is no place in London for discrimination or hate crime of any kind and it is absolutely right that investigations were launched into the two incidents as soon as they were reported and that disciplinary action will be taken if needed.

'Sadiq continues to support TfL and the Met Police in taking a zero-tolerance approach to antisemitism which is sadly rising in London and across the UK. 

'He is also working closely the Community Security Trust to provide them with enhanced support in their work supporting Jewish Londoners, including investing £250,000 to prioritise support in tackling the rise in antisemitism and other hate crimes in the capital and build a safer London for all.

'This is just one part of the part of the record £11million the Mayor has dedicated to combatting hatred, intolerance and extremism in all its forms and support for grassroots community groups to stand up to hate.'