The woman’s brother said that he believes the assault was antisemitic. “It was because she was Jewish. She was wearing a Jewish headscarf at the time,” he said.

London Police have arrested a man seen on video attacking a young Jewish woman last week in the heavily Jewish neighborhood of Stamford Hill.

In the video released by the Jewish neighbourhood watch group Shomrim, the man estimated to be in his 50s, whose name has not yet been released, is seen following the 20-year-old pregnant woman in an alley. As she is about to reach a closed gate, he rushes up, puts a dark pillowcase over her head and starts punching her before she manages to break free.

She was taken to the hospital for treatment, according to news reports. The victim, who was 27-weeks pregnant, was visiting her father.

Her brother told the Jewish Chronicle that he believes the assault was antisemitic. Solomo Reis, 18, said: “It was because she was Jewish. She was wearing a Jewish headscarf at the time.She felt someone was following her. Then he put a bag of some kind over her face and punched her a few times.’’

The London Police issued the following statement: “Enquiries are ongoing to establish a motive. At this early stage, it is not believed to be linked with any other offenses. Police have been conducting patrols in the Stamford Hill area to provide reassurance to the local community.”

The Community Security Trust (CST), a British charity that deals for the security of the Jewish community, thanked the police, calling it an “important arrest following an awful attack upon pregnant Jewish woman in Stamford Hill.”