LONDON, Ontario — A 17-year-old Jewish student was violently attacked and beaten near a Dairy Queen in the Forest Hill neighbourhood shortly before midnight on June 21, victims’ family members said in a community update Monday. The assailants, six masked individuals who followed the teen and his friend in two vehicles, targeted him with antisemitic intent, leaving him with a concussion, a broken nose and multiple bruises .
According to the family’s account, the youth and his friend were walking home after stopping for refreshments when they noticed they were being tailed. After the friend was threatened with a knife and released, the attackers pinned the teen to the ground, kicked him in the head and demanded an apology before fleeing the scene .
The family reports that initial contact with London Police yielded no follow-up after they filed a report at headquarters. “Because my son is over 16, all communication will be directly with him,” the parent wrote, noting the boy’s severe pain and dependence on his parents. The family has urged authorities to assign a dedicated investigator and keep parents fully informed .
Jewish community organizations have rallied around the family. The Jewish Community Centre of London helped coordinate support, while Tafsik, a local legal aid collective, has offered pro bono representation. B’nai Brith Canada and the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs have pledged to monitor the case and advocate for a swift resolution .
One neighbour provided security-camera footage showing the teens walking with cars in close pursuit. Another resident recovered a discarded knife and turned it over to police. The family continues to collect evidence as they press for charges under Ontario’s hate-crime statutes .
This article is based on verified information from the victim’s family statement and local Jewish community organizations.