A British court has heard testimony of a pre-mediated attack by four Muslim teenagers on a Jew in Gateshead and who was saved by a family friend who heard his screams.
The attackers were identified as Balawi Sultan, Kesa Malik, Hassanain Alimain and a 16-year-old, one of whom contradicted his gang member claims they simply were looking for a mosque. He admitted they were on the prowl to attack a Jew last July.
The gang wanted to protest about the conflict between Israel and Arabs and against a Jew in Gateshead, which hosts large Haredi population.
Sultan had sent a text message that “I’m going to go Jew-bashing. Haha,” the British Chronicle Live reported.
They randomly targeted a 41-year-old Jews who has been studying Torah at a yeshiva and was walking home to his family around midnight, when the gang spring from their van and jumped on him.
The victim, whose name was not published, fled in fear as the gang threw a piece of wood at him. He then tripped, giving the attackers the opportunity to surround him while the victim screamed. Help me. Help me.”
One of the gang threatened to kick his Jewish target in the head, and he drew back his foot just when a family friend of the victim intervened after hearing his screams. The friend arrived while two members of the gang were kneeling on top of the victim while the other two watched.
“It was his intervention which caused the attack to come to an end,” the prosecutor told the court.
The victim told Newcastle Crown Court, according to Chronicle Live:
I feel shaken and unsafe to walk the streets in my own community. I have never experienced fear and terror like it and I have no doubt I was attacked for being Jewish
I was targeted because of my religion and I’m now scared to walk past members of the Asian community with whom otherwise I have no problem. When I come across a person from the Middle East I feel scared and petrified…..
I have been greatly affected by it and but for the intervention of my friend the consequences could have been far worse.
Now, coming home at night fills me with fear.
Prosecutors said that the gang targeted the man because he was wearing a black hat and suit, traditionally worn by Haredim.
The lawyer for one of the gang members, age 18, said he apologized for the attack and had brought shame on his family.
The attorney for the minor, who now is 17, said his client “understands this kind of behavior is utterly unacceptable” and added that “he was only 16 at the time.”
Sentencing will be handed down at a later date.
It remains to be seen if the judge will let them off the hook because one of them “apologized” and another said he really shouldn’t have done such a naughty thing as attacking a Jew, as if it has not become common practice in Europe today.