A Jewish man in his 50s was stabbed in broad daylight near a bank in Stoke Newington on Friday.
The victim, named Alter Yaacov Schlesinger by the European Jewish Congress, went about his business prior to the incident when a male in his 40s stabbed him.
The victim suffered from multiple stab wounds and was immediately taken to a trauma centre. Doctors who assessed the victim’s condition said his situation was “not life-threatening nor life-changing.”
Construction site manager Lazar Friedlander and his brother Matt, who were in the area during the incident ran towards the alleged attacker and restrained and pinned him after hearing the victim’s scream.
“We ran outside. I saw a Jewish man covered in blood. I’m Jewish myself, and I can see another Jewish man shouting ‘hold him, catch him, he’s got a knife! Stabbing!” Friedlander was quoted as saying in a report by Express UK.
“There were a couple of other people trying to grab him. I and my brother managed to force him down and put his hands behind his back until the police came,” he added.
“I wouldn’t call myself a hero. You act in the heat of the moment.”
Meanwhile, the suspect who was of Asian descent was taken to a hospital for minor injuries before being brought to a police station. He was facing charges of attempted murder.
Police believed that the incident was not linked to terrorism but some onlookers, including Friedlander, said the victim may have been targeted due to his religion.
“Why he stabbed the Jewish man? I reckon it was a hate crime,” Friedlander said.
James Tipple, a detective sergeant from Hackney CID, said: “We’re conducting extensive enquiries into this attack and have been gathering evidence. However, I know many people saw this attack and, if anyone has any footage or information about this incident, please come forward and tell us what you know.”
London Mayor Sadiq Khan in a Twitter post expressed his thoughts to the victim and thanked the public for helping out.
PHOTO COURTESY: FLICKR
