Pair arrested after water sprayed at Orthodox Jews

Two men have been arrested after a video was shared online of men driving around a community filming themselves spraying a water gun at Orthodox Jews.

The footage, which was later deleted from YouTube and Instagram, showed the men laughing and smiling as they squirted water at traditionally-dressed pedestrians, including children, in Greater Manchester.

It was soundtracked with Hava Nagila, a folk song traditionally sung at Jewish celebrations.

The arrested men, aged 26 and 36, were being questioned on suspicion of racially aggravated common assault, Greater Manchester Police said.

Officers also seized a vehicle believed to be the one seen in the footage along with a water pistol, the force added.

Ch Insp Simon Ashcroft said: "We are treating this incident with the utmost seriousness and have acted swiftly to make arrests.

"Greater Manchester Police has a zero-tolerance approach to hate crime in any form, and we are committed to ensuring our communities feel safe and supported.

"We continue to work closely with our partners to provide reassurance and encourage anyone affected to come forward."

The video has been widely condemned, with the Community Security Trust, a charity that promotes the safety and protection of Jewish people, describing it as "an appalling antisemitic video".

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