A woman has been arrested on suspicion of racially aggravated criminal damage and multiple assaults after hurling antisemitic abuse and food at Jewish diners at Reubens Café and Bakery in central London, with the incident captured on video and shared widely on social media.
Police arrested a woman following footage that emerged showing her subjecting Jewish diners at Reubens Café and Bakery, a kosher deli in central London, to a torrent of antisemitic abuse, throwing food at them and allegedly damaging property, just days after the venue’s reopening.
Incident Unfolds at Popular Kosher Venue
A video of the incident, shared on social media, showed a woman yelling incoherently at patrons of Reubens Café and Bakery in central London, according to The Jewish Chronicle. The woman threw food over the diners and shouted abuse before approaching customers at a neighbouring outlet to argue with them. The footage captured the chaotic scene outside the kosher deli, highlighting the sudden eruption of hostility towards Jewish customers enjoying a meal.
As reported by The Jewish Chronicle, a person off-camera could be heard claiming that the woman broke their phone by throwing it on the floor, described her as “pro-Palestinian” and noted that she “said something about Jewish” during the tirade.
Police Response and Broader Context of Rising Tensions
The Metropolitan Police stated that a woman had been arrested on suspicion of racially aggravated criminal damage and multiple assaults in connection with the antisemitic tirade at the Jewish-owned deli. This incident occurs amid heightened concerns over antisemitic attacks in the UK, particularly targeting Jewish businesses and diners since the Israel-Hamas conflict escalated. Reubens Café and Bakery, a longstanding kosher establishment in central London, had only recently reopened, making the attack especially shocking for the community.
Details of the Arrest and Release
The Met Police confirmed the arrest but noted that the woman was subsequently released on bail, as reported by The Jewish Chronicle on July 21, 2025. The force is continuing its investigation into the matter, with the video evidence playing a key role in identifying and apprehending the suspect. Additional reports from social media, including YouTube shorts by food bloggers, described the event as racial abuse directed at a restaurant owner, aligning with the deli’s Jewish ownership and the nature of the slurs used.
Implications for Jewish Businesses in London
The attack underscores ongoing vulnerabilities for kosher venues and Jewish-owned establishments in London, where police have reported increases in hate crimes following geopolitical events. According to The Jewish Chronicle, the incident at Reubens has drawn attention to the need for enhanced security measures around such sites. No further assaults or damages were immediately reported at the deli following the arrest, but the event has prompted calls from community leaders for vigilance.
The woman involved remains on bail as investigations continue, with the video serving as primary evidence of the antisemitic abuse directed at Jewish diners at Reubens Café and Bakery in central London.
