Manchester Police have arrested two men following the widespread circulation of a viral video depicting individuals being sprayed with a water gun, targeting members of the Orthodox Jewish community. The arrests, involving men aged 26 and 36, were made on suspicion of racially aggravated common assault, underscoring the serious nature with which authorities are treating the incident. A vehicle believed to be involved, along with a water pistol, has been seized as part of the ongoing investigation.
The video, which garnered significant attention across social media platforms, showed two men laughing as they sprayed water at traditionally-dressed Orthodox Jewish adults and children in Greater Manchester. Victims appeared visibly irritated by the unsolicited act, which some of the perpetrators later described as a "simple water gun prank." The footage was reportedly soundtracked with "Hava Nagila," a traditional Jewish folk song, adding to the perceived mocking nature of the incident.
Chief Inspector Simon Ashcroft of Greater Manchester Police’s Salford district stated, "We are treating this incident with the utmost seriousness and have acted swiftly to make arrests." He further emphasized, "Greater Manchester Police has a zero-tolerance approach to hate crime in any form, and we are committed to ensuring our communities feel safe and supported." The arrests were made in Bolton, and the individuals remain in custody for questioning.
The Community Security Trust (CST), a charity dedicated to the safety of Jewish people, condemned the footage as an "appalling antisemitic video" and expressed gratitude for the swift police action. This incident follows previous reports of similar "prank" videos by the same individuals, which reportedly targeted Orthodox Jews in other public settings. Police are urging anyone who believes they were targeted in similar incidents to come forward.