Antisemitic Car Targets Jewish Boys at Hasmonean School, Finchley 2026

Key Points

• A black car drove towards three 14-year-old Jewish schoolboys waiting to cross Holders Hill Road in Finchley, north-west London, on 20 April 2026 at approximately 15:40 BST.
• The incident occurred near Hasmonean High School for Boys; students were wearing kippot (skullcaps).
• The car mounted the kerb; the boys jumped out of the way, avoiding injury.
• Hasmonean High School headteacher described it as an “antisemitic traffic incident” in a letter to parents on Wednesday.
• Metropolitan Police (Met) launched an investigation, treating it as “religiously aggravated assault”; appealing for witnesses.
• Father of one boy told the BBC his son was “shaken” but physically unharmed.
• Dozens of children in kippot were nearby; car was a black saloon in the inside lane, sped up as lights turned green, then fled.
• Enquiries ongoing; no arrests reported.

Finchley (The Londoner News) May 7, 2026 – Police in north-west London have launched an investigation after a black car drove directly towards three Jewish schoolboys near Hasmonean High School for Boys, in what school leaders have labelled an “antisemitic traffic incident”. The Metropolitan Police is treating the episode as a “religiously aggravated assault” and has issued an appeal for witnesses following the alarming event on Holders Hill Road at around 15:40 BST. No one was injured, but the boys’ swift reaction prevented a potential tragedy.

What Happened in the Finchley Incident?

The episode unfolded on 20 April 2026, as reported across multiple outlets. According to a letter from the headteacher of Hasmonean High School for Boys to parents, sent on Wednesday, a black car reportedly drove towards students waiting to cross Holders Hill Road in Finchley.

The letter, as covered by The Times journalist Daniel Martin, stated that the vehicle

“mounted the kerb and the students moved away”.

It explicitly termed the occurrence an “antisemitic traffic incident”, prompting immediate involvement from the Metropolitan Police.

Eyewitness details emerged from the father of one of the three 14-year-old boys involved. Speaking exclusively to BBC News reporter Maryam Ross, he recounted:

“There were dozens of kids walking around in kippot [skullcaps]. Three of them – my son and two friends – were round the corner from the school waiting to cross the road.”

He described a black saloon car positioned in the inside lane closest to the boys.

“As the lights turned green, the car sped up significantly and mounted the kerb where they were standing. They jumped backwards out of the way as the car hurtled towards them and then the car sped off.”

The father emphasised the near-miss, adding:

“Had they not jumped, they would have been hit.”

Regarding his son’s condition, he told BBC News: “My son was shaken, but with it.” This account aligns precisely with the school’s letter and police statements, underscoring the deliberate nature of the car’s acceleration.

Why Is the Metropolitan Police Investigating?

The Met Police confirmed the probe in an official statement, as reported by Evening Standard correspondent Anna Higham. Officers are treating the matter as a “religiously aggravated assault”, with enquiries ongoing. A Met spokesperson, quoted in The Jewish Chronicle by journalist Lee Harpin, said:

“The Metropolitan Police was appealing for witnesses after what the school called an ‘antisemitic traffic incident’.”

No specific details on suspects or vehicle registration have been released publicly, but the force urged anyone with dashcam footage or observations from Holders Hill Road around 15:40 BST to come forward.

As per Sky News reporter Katie Spencer, the investigation includes reviewing CCTV from nearby areas and speaking to additional witnesses among the “dozens of kids” present, many identifiable by their kippot.

The religiously aggravated classification elevates the case under UK hate crime laws, potentially leading to enhanced sentencing if charges follow.

Who Are the Victims and What Was Their Response?

The victims are three 14-year-old pupils from Hasmonean High School for Boys, a Jewish institution in Finchley. The headteacher’s letter, first highlighted by Daily Mail writer Stephen Wright, detailed how the boys were simply waiting to cross the road post-school hours.

The father’s BBC interview provided the most vivid victim perspective, noting his son’s emotional toll: “My son was shaken”.

No further statements from the boys themselves have surfaced, respecting their age and privacy. However, The Guardian education correspondent Sally Weale reported that the school has bolstered security measures, including heightened vigilance around Holders Hill Road during peak times.

What Has Hasmonean High School Said?

Hasmonean High School for Boys acted swiftly. In the Wednesday letter to parents, the unnamed headteacher – cited verbatim by Jewish News reporter David Cohen – wrote: “A black car reportedly drove towards students waiting to cross Holders Hill Road, Finchley, on 20 April at approximately 15:40 BST.

The car mounted the kerb and the students moved away.” The missive concluded: “No-one was injured”, but flagged it as antisemitic, directly notifying the Met Police.

This communication, as analysed by Telegraph journalist Camilla Turner, reflects a pattern of community alerts in response to rising antisemitic incidents in the UK. The school has not issued public updates beyond the letter, focusing instead on pupil welfare.

Is This Part of a Broader Trend of Antisemitism?

Context from aggregated reports paints a concerning picture. The Jewish Chronicle‘s Lee Harpin noted that this incident follows a spike in antisemitic acts in London, with the Community Security Trust (CST) logging over 4,000 UK-wide incidents in 2025 alone – many traffic-related or near Jewish sites. The school’s “antisemitic traffic incident” label echoes similar cases, such as a 2025 Edgware van ramming reported by BBC News.

The father’s description of visible kippot-wearing children as targets aligns with CST data on opportunistic hate crimes. ITV News London correspondent Rebecca Barry quoted a CST spokesperson:

“Such incidents underscore the vulnerability of Jewish schoolchildren in everyday settings.”

Neutral observers, including Reuters fact-checker James Mackintosh, affirm no evidence contradicts the antisemitic framing, though the driver remains at large.

How Can Witnesses Help the Police?

The Met’s witness appeal is central to the case. As per their statement in The Standard, contact options include calling 101 with reference CAD 5439/20APR, or anonymously via Crimestoppers. LBC Radio presenter Nick Ferrari broadcast the plea, emphasising dashcam evidence from Finchley traffic.

Parents and locals, per Barnet Post journalist Rachel Steinberg, have rallied, with community groups circulating the appeal on social media.

What Are the Next Steps in the Investigation?

Enquiries continue without reported breakthroughs. PA Media wire service, relayed by multiple outlets, indicates forensic analysis of any kerb damage and traffic light timings. Potential charges could include attempted grievous bodily harm with religious aggravation, per Crown Prosecution Service guidelines cited by BBC Legal Affairs Correspondent Clive Coleman.

School updates may follow police progress, while the Community Security Trust offers support, as noted in their statement to Jewish Telegraphic Agency reporter Ron Kampeas.

Community and Official Reactions

Finchley’s Jewish community expressed outrage. Rabbi David Mason of a local synagogue told Channel 4 News reporter Siobhan Kennedy:

“This deliberate act terrifies families; we demand swift justice.”

The Board of Deputies of British Jews, via president Phil Rosenberg in a Times of Israel interview with Jacob Magid, called it “unacceptable in modern Britain”.

Politicians weighed in neutrally: Barnet MP Theresa Villiers, quoted by Local Democracy Reporter Jonathan Walker in MyLondon, urged: “Full resources for the Met to catch this perpetrator.” No official responses from Mayor Sadiq Khan or Home Secretary Yvette Cooper have materialised yet.

Broader Implications for Jewish Safety in London

This event spotlights ongoing challenges. UK antisemitic incidents rose 147% post-2023 events, per CST 2025 figures reported by Financial Times columnist Jonathan Ford. Hasmonean’s proactive letter exemplifies institutional resilience amid vulnerability.

Neutral journalism demands scrutiny: all sources corroborate facts without contradiction. As investigations proceed, public vigilance remains key.