Man faces court charged with assaulting three women on Clapton Common

A 33-year-old man has been charged with three counts of assault by beating following alleged attacks on Jewish women on Clapton Common. Abdisamad Siad, who is of no fixed abode, appeared at Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday. He pleaded not guilty to all charges and was remanded into custody.

The alleged offences took place on Monday. Prosecutors told the court that the first complainant reported being slapped across the face by a man at approximately 1.30pm. The man then moved as if to punch her before running away. Shortly after, at around 1.36pm, a second victim was reportedly punched twice in the face without provocation while she was pushing her baby daughter in a pram. A third victim was allegedly punched three to four times before the suspect fled the scene.

All three victims are understood to be members of the Orthodox Jewish community. CCTV footage shared by the Jewish security group Shomrim appears to show a man running towards a woman, pausing, and then punching her twice. Shomrim had reportedly been alerted to the incident by another visibly Jewish woman who also reported being punched.

The Metropolitan Police confirmed officers were called at approximately 1.40pm on Monday after a suspect was detained by Shomrim. The women involved suffered minor injuries. Police patrols have since been increased in the Hackney area.

Siad also faces a separate charge of grievous bodily harm with intent over an unrelated incident. A provisional trial date for the assault by beating charges has been set for December 11 at Stratford Magistrates’ Court. He is due to appear at Snaresbrook Crown Court on November 18 for a plea and trial preparation hearing regarding the GBH charge.