Residents were evacuated after the incident

‘Anti-Semitic’ bomb attack on Clayhall home was not aimed at wider Jewish community, says councillor

Amanda Nunn Thursday, November 15, 2012
8:00 AM

An “anti-Semitic” bomb attack on a house in Clayhall was “not aimed at the wider Jewish community” according to a councillor.

Police were called at about 3pm on Monday after a small explosive devise was delivered to a house in Clayhall Avenue.

A cordon of about 500 metres was put in place as police explosive officers made it safe.

Dozens of families were told to leave their houses as police dealt with the incident.

Clayhall Cllr Alan Weinberg said: “The police do not believe it was aimed at the Jewish community.

“They are keeping the appropriate people in the loop and I don’t think the Jewish community has anything to be concerned about with regard to this specific incident.”

No one was injured during the incident and police said that the package posed no risk to the general public.

They also said the incident was being treated as an anti-Semitic faith hate crime but it was not terrorist related.

Ian Petty, 50, of Clayhall Avenue, said: “The road was taped off and I was looking for a car accident. A policeman had rubber gloves on and told me to go the other way.

“I’ve lived here all my life. I cannot believe it, the suburbs of London and we’re getting bombed.”

The cordon was scaled back at about 4.30pm with just the house in question taped off. About five ambulance vehicles, four fire engines and police cars and vans all attended the incident.

Rabbi David Hulbert, of Bet Tikvah synagogue, Perrymans Farm Road, Newbury Park said: “This is rare in Ilford and rare in Britain.

“It’s very shocking and disturbing for any family to receive a parcel like that.

“I don’t think this is part of a wider issue.

“I don’t want to excite a temperature of fear and paranoia about it.”