By Fiona Parker and Jonathan Frayman
Six men were arrested last night after a Stamford Hill synagogue was attacked by gang of 20.
They remain in custody as police announce they are going to step up patrols in the area.
One man said after the attack he “can see why people go back to Israel”.
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Maftoli, an eyewitness, said:Â “They were saying that wanted to fight and stab somebody.
“When they broke in it looked like about 20 or 30 people. We all grabbed tables and chairs to protect ourselves.”
“I was quite threatened and you can see why people do feel intimidated.”
The men tried to enter the Ahavas Torah synagogue in Stamford Hill, smashing the windows of the building and shouting abuse.
The synagogue, church, and mosque sit together on the same street, and resident
One resident said: “Normally everybody gets along peacefully, I don’t know what happened.”
Maftoli Kelin, 19, who prayed there for 12 years, was at the synagogue on Saturday night.
“I went outside to my van which was parked outside the place. Then I was cuffed by these guys who were saying all these anti-semitic statements,” He told the Hackney Post. “Then I went back to the synagogue.”
Maftoli added: “The police were quite quick on this one. But they need to make sure this stuff is not happening anymore.”
Scotland Yard have confirmed the disturbance took place at around 1.15am, and said the incident was being treated as anti-Semitic.
A spokesperson for the Met Police was also able to confirm that a small number of the alleged attackers entered the synagogue and that they were quickly removed by security staff.
Today locals pitched in to help clean up the synagogue.
In response to the attack Joel Kaham, 17, of Linthorpe Road, who is a regular at the Stamford Hill synagogue said: “I was shocked when I heard about it.
“There have been smaller anti-semetic incidents but this is the first major one,”
“I don’t think it was planned I think it was just drunk people and a situation escalated”
Social Media’s role in Stamford Hill synagogue attack
The news initially broke on Twitter broke on Twitter from the @IsraelHatzolah.
LONDON: At least 20 youths attacked a local Synogogue in Stamford Hill neighborhood, yelling “We will kill you” & vandalizing property.
— Israel News Feed (@IsraelHatzolah) March 22, 2015
PHOTO – LONDON: 1 injured after at least 20 youths attack and vandalize synagogue, 8 suspects arrested by police. pic.twitter.com/31wUF0u4Qa
— Israel News Feed (@IsraelHatzolah) March 22, 2015
Many local residents have taken to social media to voice their disappointment at the attack.
Gang of 20 Men Attack Synagogue in Stamford Hill – Sat Night 3-22-2015: https://t.co/dAusifXZ9U >Disgrace this is happening on streets of UK
— Andy Collingwood (@FireWalkWithMoi) March 22, 2015
