Five teenagers have been arrested after a pair of youths were caught on camera allegedly trying to kidnap a Jewish passer-by in their vehicle in broad daylight.
Footage of the incident was posted online – in it, the duo can be seen coming to a halt in a Volkswagen Cross SUV as a man who appears to be wearing traditional Hasidic Jewish clothing walks past.
The pair can be seen swiftly exiting the car as the pedestrian stands still, before they open the boot and a car door as they approach the man.
The youth in an orange shirt runs towards the Jewish man, but quickly turns around before re-entering the car alongside its black-clad driver as an unseen rear passenger closes their door.
The pair jumped out of their car and opened the boot as they attempted to approach the pedestrian
Shomrim/X
The car recording the incident then drives to the side, allowing the youths’ SUV to pass through.
The video was uploaded to social media by Shomrim, a north London ‘neighbourhood watch’-style group which monitors areas with large Jewish communities.
The group claimed the man had been “threatened by four males”, and said the incident ended when the victim told the apparent would-be kidnappers that he was calling the police.
A police statement said: “At around 5.24pm on Friday, April 26, the victim – a Jewish male – was walking on Moundfield Road, N16 when a car pulled up beside him and two males got out of the vehicle.
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The stretch of Moundfield Road where the reported attempted kidnap took place
“The victim was approached by one of the males [who] allegedly told the victim to get into the boot of the car, shortly before driving off.
“The incident was reported to the police and an investigation was launched by officers based in Hackney.
“We are aware of a video being shared online and this will form part of our enquiries.
“We are in contact with the Shomrim and our enquiries are ongoing.”
A later Metropolitan Police Hackney statement read: “Five teenagers, three aged 17, one 15 and one 18-year-old have been arrested and taken into custody in connection with a reported attempted kidnap in Stamford Hill.
“Officers in Hackney are investigating the incident which happened on Friday in Moundfield Road, N16.”
Shomrim said it was “conducting significant CCTV enquiries as well as appealing for witnesses or for anyone who can identify these suspects”.
Police have asked for any members of the public with information to call 101, citing reference CAD 5836 of April 26.
