Man charged with making Nazi salute at synagogue

A man has been charged with a racially aggravated offence after he allegedly gave a Nazi salute outside a synagogue.

Hertfordshire Police said it happened as worshippers were leaving the place of worship in Croxdale Road, Borehamwood, on Saturday 9 May.

The 19-year-old, from Watford, was arrested on 22 May and has since been charged with a racially/religiously aggravated Section 5 public order offence.

He is due to appear at St Albans Magistrates' Court on Friday 16 October. He was released on bail and told not to attend any synagogues in England or to return to Croxdale Road.

Insp Rachael Robertson said: "Antisemitism has no place here in Hertsmere or the wider county.

"We want all communities to feel safe and incidents like this will always be taken extremely seriously.

"We know that the Jewish community are feeling particularly vulnerable at the moment and we are regularly meeting with Jewish faith leaders to see how we can best support them."

She said the force had been given new funding meaning the number of patrols would be increased during the "upcoming high holy days".

Robertson said that people wanting to report hate crimes could visit the Herts Against Hate website, where there was information on independent reporting centres and other agencies offering support.

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