Car Driven at Jewish Boys in North London 2026

Key Points

• Police are investigating after a car was driven towards three 14-year-old Jewish school children in north London
• Officers are treating the incident as a “religiously aggravated assault”
• The alleged incident occurred on Monday, 20 April 2026 at approximately 3:40pm BST on Holders Hill Road in Barnet, Finchley
• A black saloon-type vehicle mounted the kerb/sidewalk where the students were waiting to cross
• The three boys moved out of the way and no injuries were reported
• The vehicle drove off towards Henlys Corner/the A406 without stopping
• Hasmonean High School for Boys’ Interim Headteacher Mr J Fisher wrote to parents about the “antisemitic traffic incident”
• The school appealed for witnesses and dashcam footage
• Police reference number: 2017/24APR
• No arrests have been made as of 7 May 2026
• The Community Security Trust (CST) confirmed the incident was reported to them and is under police investigation
• One father stated the driver appeared to intend to “terrorise” the children
• The Metropolitan Police confirmed they are maintaining close communication with the nearby school

Finchley, Barnet (Extra London News) May 7, 2026 — Police are investigating after a car was driven towards three 14-year-old Jewish school children in north London, with officers treating the incident as a “religiously aggravated assault.” The Metropolitan Police confirmed they are investigating reports that a vehicle drove towards the boys on Holders Hill Road, Barnet, on Monday, 20 April 2026.

What Exactly Happened During the Incident?

According to a letter from the school’s Interim Headteacher, Mr J Fisher, seen by The Jewish Chronicle, a group of Hasmonean students was involved in a concerning incident near the A1 carriageway by Holders Hill Road NW4, close to the pedestrian crossing near October Place at approximately 3:40 pm. As reported by The Jewish Chronicle, Fisher wrote:

“According to the police investigation, a black saloon-type vehicle reportedly drove towards the students whilst they were waiting to cross the road, mounting the kerb and causing the students to move quickly out of the way before the vehicle drove off towards Henlys Corner / the A406”.

The BBC reported that the vehicle mounted the pavement, prompting the children to move aside, and unfortunately, no injuries were reported. The Jerusalem Post confirmed that a vehicle allegedly mounted the curb where three 14-year-old boys were standing, but they reportedly moved out of the way, and there were no injuries.

Why is the police treating this as a Religiously Aggravated Assault?

A Metropolitan Police spokesperson stated:

“While enquiries are ongoing to establish the circumstances, this is currently being treated as a religiously aggravated assault”.

The BBC reported that an inquiry has been initiated following the incident where a vehicle approached three Jewish schoolchildren in north-west London.

The father of one of the boys conveyed his belief that the driver aimed to “terrorise” the children. As reported by the BBC, the father stated:

“I am not convinced that the driver intended to cause harm, but it is clear to us – and to the investigating officer I’ve spoken with – that there seemed to be intent. If someone narrowly missed three children, they would typically stop to check what happened. There is no indication that occurred; the vehicle simply screeched away afterward”.

The father continued:

“It was clearly someone who recognized an opportunity to target young, visibly Jewish children in a manner that could have resulted in serious injury if they hadn’t moved”.

What Has the School Said to Parents?

The head of the students’ school — Hasmonean High for Boys — has written to parents about the “antisemitic traffic incident” in Barnet, appealing for witnesses. As reported by The Jewish Chronicle, Fisher’s letter informed parents:

“We are writing to make the community aware of an incident currently being investigated by the Metropolitan Police”.

A representative from Hasmonean High School for Boys stated:

“During this difficult time, we are collaborating closely with our community and relevant agencies to ensure the safety of our students”.

The BBC reported that the principal of Hasmonean High School for Boys communicated with parents on Wednesday, indicating that the Metropolitan Police were seeking witnesses after the school described the event as an “antisemitic traffic incident”.

What Has the Community Security Trust Said?

The Community Security Trust (CST), an organisation dedicated to safeguarding British Jews from antisemitism, reported that the incident had been brought to their attention and was under investigation by the Metropolitan Police.

As reported by The Jewish Chronicle, the CST told them: “The incident was reported to CST and is being investigated by the police and we urge anyone who witnessed this to contact the police and CST”.

How Are Police Appealing for Witnesses?

Officers said anyone with information is asked to contact police, providing the reference 2017/24APR. A spokesperson for the police confirmed that inquiries are ongoing to clarify the details surrounding the incident, stating:

“We are maintaining close communication with the nearby school. At this point, no arrests have been made”.

The BBC reported that the correspondence detailed that a dark-colored car allegedly drove toward students who were waiting to cross Holders Hill Road in Finchley on 20 April at around 15:40 BST. The Jewish Chronicle confirmed that the alleged incident took place on 20 April and was reported to the Metropolitan Police and the Community Security Trust.

What Is the Current Status of the Investigation?

The Jerusalem Post reported that by Thursday, the investigation was still treating the incident as a possible religiously motivated aggravated assault, and no arrests had been made. The Met said it was in contact with the boys’ school, which the Jewish News identified as the Hasmonean High School for Boys.

The BBC confirmed that a black car allegedly drives towards a group of Jewish students waiting to cross a road in north London, and an inquiry has been initiated. As reported by The Jerusalem Post, the school declined to comment beyond the letter sent to parents.

Should Parents Be Concerned About Student Safety?

A representative from Hasmonean High School for Boys assured the community that during this difficult time, they are collaborating closely with their community and relevant agencies to ensure the safety of their students. The Metropolitan Police confirmed they remain in close contact with the nearby school.

The incident has raised concerns within the Jewish community about antisemitism targeting visibly Jewish children in public spaces. The CST’s involvement underscores the seriousness with which this incident is being treated by Jewish community security organisations.

What Police Reference Number Should Witnesses Use?

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact police, providing the reference 2017/24APR, as confirmed by the Metropolitan Police spokesperson speaking to The Jewish Chronicle. The police are appealing for any witnesses who may have seen the incident or who may have relevant dashcam footage from the area at the time.

Where Can People Get More Information?

The Metropolitan Police continue their enquiries to establish the full circumstances surrounding this incident. The Community Security Trust has urged anyone who witnessed the incident to contact both the police and CST. The investigation remains ongoing as of 7 May 2026, with no arrests made at this stage.