Driver suspended and hate crime inquiry opened after Jewish man 'trapped in bus'

The Metropolitan Police confirmed it has opened a hate crime investigation into the incident, and the bus operator, Arriva, has suspended the driver while it carries out inquiries.

Mr Abraham tried to take the bus on his way home from his synagogue at around 1.35pm on Monday.

However, while attempting to pay the 52-year-old accidently dropped his bank card into the driver's cabin.

He said that when he asked for the driver, who has not been named, to return the card, he was told: "No, I am not giving it to you... I don't want to see a Mossad agent in my face... I don't like Jewish people."

According to Mr Abraham, when he asked the other passengers to help him, "they were nervous and they [asked the driver] why he was behaving like that".

He told The Jewish Chronicle that the other passengers eventually got off the bus.

Mr Abraham continued: "[The driver] told me to get out [and leave the card] and said, 'If you don't get out, I will lock you in the bus'. I didn't, and he locked me in the bus."

He said he was trapped inside the vehicle for around an hour, during which time he phoned the police.

The 52-year-old added: "The police came and [asked the driver], 'Why won't you give him his bank card?', and he said, 'I can't give it, if you want to give it to him you have to open the door and give it to him'.

"The police opened the cabin door, took my bank card and gave it to me."

Mr Abraham reported the incident as a hate crime, adding: "I was very traumatised. I haven't been sleeping well. I'm wondering why he was behaving like this. I did nothing to him. I was very shocked. I panicked, and I was scared. I'm not safe."

Former Attorney-General Sir Michael Ellis said: "The police should be investigating this distressing incident as an alleged offence of false imprisonment.

"This is just the latest in a series of allegations of anti-Jewish hatred on public transport in London - and it requires an urgent response."

Across Britain, the rate of antisemitic hate crimes remains at a record high after the Hamas terror attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023.

Arriva London Bus, the driver's employer, said he had been suspended.

A spokesman said: "We are taking it extremely seriously and we will take all appropriate action once our investigation has concluded.

"We are a responsible employer, and we expect the highest standards from our drivers.

"We never tolerate abuse in any of its forms and we will always deal with any incidents swiftly and robustly."

A spokesman for Transport for London said: "We are supporting the police and the bus operator, Arriva, while they investigate and take appropriate formal action."

A Met spokesman said: "On Monday, October 27 at 2.03pm police were called to reports of a verbal dispute between two men on a bus travelling in Stamford Hill, Hackney.

"No arrests have been made. An investigation is under way and anyone with information is asked to call 101 quoting CAD3847/27OCT25."