Two men who shouted antisemitic abuse at four friends leaving Western Marble Arch Synagogue have been sentenced today for religiously aggravated hate crimes.
Hussein Altamimi, 22, and Ali Alanzi, 30, were found guilty of four offences of religiously-aggravated fear or provocation of violence and religiously-aggravated assault after a trial at Isleworth Crown Court earlier this week.
Alanzi was also found guilty of assaulting an emergency worker and Altamimi was found guilty of assaulting an emergency worker and racially aggravated harassment in relation to a separate incident on 1 July 2023 when he kicked a police officer and shouted racial abuse at her.
Altamimi and Alanzi targeted the group who were leaving a social event at Western Marble Arch Synagogue in November 2024 by shouting “Jews aren’t welcome here”.
When one of the victims started to record the antisemitic abuse on her mobile phone, Altamimi assaulted her by hitting her arm so that her phone fell from her hand.
Altamimi and Alanzi continued to behave aggressively towards the victims, with Alanzi throwing a cup of alcohol at one of them.
They were detained by synagogue security before being arrested by the police, with Alanzi assaulting a police officer during the course of his arrest.
At today’s sentence hearing, Altamimi was sentenced to eight months’ imprisonment.
Alanzi was sentenced to seven months’ imprisonment for these offences and an additional 12 weeks’ imprisonment for an activated suspended sentence.
Anna Hindmarsh, from the Crown Prosecution Service, said: “The CPS is working closely with the police to tackle hate crime, making sure that perpetrators who target victims because of their religion, race, sexuality, gender identity or disability are brought to justice.
“We know that hate crimes have a significant impact on victims and the wider community, and we will continue to support victims and witnesses who come forward to report any examples of hate crime they have experienced.”
