A Jewish man was allegedly subjected to a prolonged and distressing antisemitic attack by a London bus driver who refused to return the passenger’s bank card and trapped him alone on the vehicle for approximately an hour. The incident, which reportedly occurred recently and has been partially captured on video, has ignited widespread condemnation and prompted an urgent investigation by Transport for London (TfL).
Allegations of Hate Crime and False Imprisonment
The passenger, identified only as David, who was reportedly dressed in visibly Orthodox Jewish attire, stated that the confrontation began as he attempted to pay his fare.
According to David's account, the driver shouted an initial antisemitic remark, which caused David to drop his debit card. When the card slipped into a crevice near the driver's console, an area inaccessible to passengers, David repeatedly asked for its return. The driver allegedly refused, declaring he would not give the card back "because you're Jewish."
As other passengers exited the bus, the driver reportedly locked the doors, leaving David trapped inside.
"Throughout the ordeal, the driver continued to show open hostility toward Jews," an advocacy group reported. David alleges that the driver escalated the abuse, going so far as to accuse him of being a Mossad agent.
Video footage of the distressed passenger pleading for his card while the driver ignored him has since surfaced online, highlighting the severity of the alleged encounter.
