Panic erupted near a Jewish school in northwest London when a black car suddenly mounted the pavement and raced toward a group of students waiting to cross the road.
The terrified pupils scrambled out of the way, fleeing for their lives as the vehicle bore down on them near Hasmonean High School for Boys.
It happened at around 3:40 PM on April 20, just steps from a pedestrian crossing along the busy A1 carriageway.
Headteacher James Fisher described the event as a "concerning incident" in a letter to parents, and confirmed staff are now on high alert.
"We are being cautious and vigilant," Fisher told us, adding that student safety is the top priority—especially after recent antisemitic attacks, including the stabbing of two men in nearby Golders Green.
The school already has round-the-clock security at its gates, but the alleged ramming occurred about 100 meters away, where no guards were stationed.
One parent who lives close by was shaken. "It's despicable to be targeted for being a Jewish person. These are just children walking home. It seems nowhere is safe."
Extensive CCTV cameras cover the main road, and investigators are now reviewing footage to identify the vehicle and driver.
Security staff revealed they've been on high alert for months following a wave of confirmed and suspected attacks on the Jewish community across London.
The car reportedly sped off toward Henlys Corner and the A406 after the incident. Police are urgently appealing for witnesses and anyone with dash cam footage from that time and location.
This latest frightening episode comes just weeks after a double stabbing in Golders Green was declared an act of terrorism, along with arson attacks on Jewish ambulances and a memorial wall.
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley has labelled the surge in antisemitic violence a "pandemic," demanding an extra 300 officers to combat the threat.
The Home Office is pouring in £18 million in emergency funding, plus an additional £4 million through the Jewish Community Protective Security Grant.
Hasmonean High School for Boys serves more than 750 students from the Orthodox Jewish community of northwest London. For now, every crossing, every street corner holds a new fear.
