Police launch 'hate crime' probe after rabbi standing as Tory party candidate was 'abused and intimidated' at when he visited local mosque By James Tozer and Eirian Jane Prosser Published: 19:22, 2 July 2024 | Updated: 19:26, 2 July 2024 e-mail View comments Police today launched an investigation into whether the abuse hurled at a rabbi standing as a Conservative candidate when he visited a mosque constituted a hate crime . Jewish groups and politicians from all sides reacted with horror after a clip of Arnold Saunders being harangued and branded a 'snake' over the war in Gaza was widely shared on social media. Now Greater Manchester Police have launched an investigation into the appalling scene outside Bilal Mosque in Prestwich to establish whether a crime was committed.
Mr Saunders, who is trying to win the Bury South seat, had been invited to the hustings on June 21 when a worshipper began hounding him. Throughout the clip, the man aggressively approaches the rabbi telling him to condemn Israel's attacks in Gaza following the October 7 attacks carried out by Hamas. Rabbi Arnold Saunders, who is trying to win the Bury South seat for the Conservative Party, was approached by a worshipper outside Bilal Mosque in Prestwich Throughout the clip, which has been widely spread on social media, the man aggressively approaches the rabbi (pictured) telling him to condemn Israel 's attacks in Gaza following the October 7 attacks carried out by Hamas The man's 'intimidating' behaviour d.