A knife-wielding man threatened to behead an orthodox Jewish man as he walked down a street in east London.
Police arrested a man on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence after the incident at around 10am yesterday morning in Whitechapel.
The victim, in his 40s, was said to have been threatened and called a "f****** Jew" by a man while he made his way to work.
The man then pulled a knife and chased him down the street while shouting further anti-Semitic abuse, it is claimed.
A knife was recovered from the scene on Dunbridge Road, police said.
Barnet Councillor Nizza Fluss said: “A man started running behind him saying ‘I’m going to kill you, I’m going to chop your head off’
“He [the victim] saw that he took a knife out and he started running away, he was just running for his life.
The victim was said to be “absolutely traumatised” and has not yet been able to return to work.
“I’m so upset,” she said, “I can’t function, he’s such a nice, lovely person and is a very religious man.”
The Metropolitan Police said in a statement: “At around 10am on July 1 a Jewish man was threatened by another man in Dunbridge St.
“The suspect was carrying a knife. Police responded and arrested a 34-year-old man nearby for a racially aggravated public order offence.
“A knife was recovered from the suspect who remains in custody.”
Any witnesses to the incident have been asked to contact the Metropolitan Police on 101 or tweet at @MetCC.
