A teenager accused of hitting a Jewish man with a smashed glass bottle in an antisemitic attack has been remanded in custody.
Malachi Thorpe, 18, is alleged to have targeted two people – Israel Grossman and Erwin Ginsberg – as they closed up the shop they work at in Cadoxton Avenue, Haringey, on January 26.
He is accused of stamping on a yarmulke – a religious skullcap – and using the bottle as a weapon against one of the men during the alleged onslaught.
Police were called out at around 9.50pm after receiving reports the two men, who were described in court as both visibly Orthodox Jewish, had been attacked.
The pair were taken to a north London hospital to be treated for injuries including a broken nose, and Thorpe was arrested in Fairview Road.
He appeared at Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court on Friday after being charged with two counts of racially aggravated actual bodily harm and one count of possessing an offensive weapon.
Wearing a grey tracksuit and surgical face mask, Thorpe, of Fairview Road, Tottenham, spoke to confirm his details and indicate not guilty pleas to all three charges during the 20-minute hearing.
District judge Michael Oliver remanded Thorpe into custody ahead of a further hearing at Wood Green Crown Court on March 3.
Earlier tonight Hatzola provided medical care and transported to hospital 2 victims following a vicious attack outside a bakery in Tottenham.
— Hatzola (@Hatzola) January 27, 2022
Suspect was apprehended by @Shomrim & @MPSHaringey pic.twitter.com/ghdzeUJzRR
The attack happened on the eve of Holocaust Memorial Day.
Speaking on January 27, Chief Superintendent Simon Crick, who leads policing in Enfield and Haringey, said: "On this most important day, this is an awful reminder that hate crime still exists. I know that Haringey residents will be upset by such a horrible attack and we won’t stand for anyone in our community being targeted or hurt.
"If you assault someone, you can expect us to do everything we can to investigate and find you.
"I’ve been in touch with members of the local Jewish community, and I’m providing additional patrols throughout the day to reassure the community. Please do speak to them if you have any concerns.
"I’d like to thank the members of the public who called us and asked us to come to the aid of these two gentlemen and grateful for their help, which meant we could locate a suspect."
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