6 arrested after forcing their way into London synagogue

The men, who were drunk, tried to enter a synagogue in the largely haredi Orthodox-populated neighborhood of Stamford Hill but were removed by synagogue security.

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(JTA) — Six men were arrested after they forced their way into a synagogue in north London.

The men, who were drunk, attempted to enter a synagogue in the largely haredi Orthodox-populated neighborhood of Stamford Hill late Saturday night, the BBC reported Sunday. Synagogue security staff removed the men, the Metropolitan Police told the BBC.

“The incident is being treated as an anti-Semitic incident due to remarks made by one of the group,” a police spokesman told the BBC. “However, there is nothing to suggest that it was a planned or targeted attack.”

A video of the incident shows some 10 members of the synagogue having to defend themselves with chairs and makeshift clubs as the men attempt to enter a room in the synagogue, the London-based Jewish Chronicle reported. They are seen in the video threatening the worshippers who are preventing them from entering the room.

Police told the BBC that it had increased patrols in the neighborhood.

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