Greater Manchester Police have launched a criminal investigation after self-proclaimed “pranksters” filmed themselves targeting visibly Jewish pedestrians with water pistols in a series of viral social media videos that have garnered nearly one million views.
The footage, posted to Instagram, showed two young men driving around Manchester and spraying members of the strictly-Orthodox community with water guns, targeting both adults and children who appeared visibly distressed whilst the perpetrators laughed. The attacks appear to be part of a coordinated campaign of harassment against Orthodox Jews, with additional footage showing the same individuals approaching Jewish travellers at an airport.
The incidents have prompted widespread condemnation from community leaders and security organisations, with the Community Security Trust (CST) describing the videos as “appalling” and confirming they are working closely with police to identify the perpetrators.
Pattern of Targeted Harassment
The water pistol attacks were not isolated incidents but part of what appears to be a sustained campaign of harassment directed specifically at Orthodox Jewish individuals. In addition to the street attacks, two other clips posted to the same Instagram account show the men approaching strictly-Orthodox travellers in an airport setting.
In what they termed an “Apple Pay prank”, the perpetrators held their phones up to their victims, triggering the Apple Pay sound effect before falsely claiming to have taken money. “You are very rich, I just got £60 from you,” one of the men can be heard telling a Jewish holidaymaker in the footage.
The videos have collectively drawn nearly one million views on Instagram and attracted what sources describe as a “wave of antisemitic comments” in the replies section. The viral nature of the content has amplified concerns about copycat incidents and the normalisation of antisemitic harassment disguised as entertainment.
Facing significant backlash from the Jewish community and beyond, the individuals behind the attacks have since edited their posts to include a disclaimer reading: “This video was made purely for humorous purposes. It is just a joke and not hate speech in any way. Please do not take it the wrong way”.
Police Launch Criminal Investigation
Greater Manchester Police have confirmed they are treating the incidents as hate crimes and have launched an active investigation with multiple lines of enquiry. A police spokesperson told reporters: “We are aware of footage circulating online appearing to show occupants of a vehicle spraying water at members of the Jewish community”.
A crime has been recorded, with multiple lines of enquiry being actively investigated,” the spokesperson added. “We are working closely with partners to provide reassurance to the communities impacted, and we encourage anyone who has been targeted to contact us on 999, 101, or by reporting on our website”.
The Community Security Trust, which monitors antisemitic incidents across the UK and provides security for Jewish communities, confirmed they are assisting police with their investigation. A CST spokesperson stated: “We are aware of an appalling antisemitic video circulating on social media and are in touch with police”.
When approached about the incidents, one of the perpetrators claimed: “This was meant to be light-hearted and humorous. If anyone felt offended, we sincerely apologise”. However, community leaders have rejected attempts to dismiss the targeted harassment as mere pranks.
Rising Antisemitic Incidents in Manchester
The water pistol attacks come against a backdrop of persistently high levels of antisemitic incidents across Greater Manchester. According to the latest data from CST, the region recorded 194 antisemitic incidents in the first half of 2025, making it the area with the second-highest number of reports outside London.
Manchester is home to the UK’s second-largest Jewish community outside the capital, with particularly significant populations in areas such as Prestwich, where 5.5 per cent of residents identify as Jewish according to the 2021 Census. The strictly-Orthodox community, distinguishable by their traditional dress, has been particularly vulnerable to street-level harassment.
Dave Rich, director of policy at the CST, emphasised the broader pattern: “Harassment, abuse and attacks on Jewish people always increases when Israel is at war, and there is never any excuse for it. It is vital that as many of these hate crime reports as possible result in arrests and prosecutions”.
The incidents follow a disturbing trend of rising antisemitism across the UK. CST recorded 1,521 antisemitic incidents in the first six months of 2025, the second-highest half-year figure in their records. This represents sustained high levels of anti-Jewish hate following the Hamas terror attack on Israel in October 2023.
Community Response and Security Concerns
The targeting of visibly Jewish individuals for social media content has raised serious concerns about the safety of Orthodox communities who cannot easily conceal their identity. Many Orthodox Jews wear distinctive clothing as part of their religious observance, making them particularly vulnerable to targeted harassment.
Local Jewish organisations have called for increased police patrols in areas with significant Jewish populations and stronger action against those who film and distribute footage of harassment. The viral nature of such content creates additional harm beyond the initial incidents, exposing victims to further ridicule and potentially inspiring copycat attacks.
Previous incidents in Manchester have included physical assaults on Jewish individuals leaving synagogues. In February 2025, a Jewish man was violently attacked outside a Manchester synagogue, potentially losing vision in one eye after being struck with what was believed to be a bottle. The attacker reportedly shouted “murderer” and blamed the victim for the war in Gaza.
Legal Implications and Precedents
The filming and distribution of the harassment adds an additional dimension to the criminal investigation. Legal experts note that posting such content online with the intent to humiliate or distress victims could constitute additional offences beyond the initial harassment.
The claim that the attacks were “pranks” is unlikely to provide legal defence. In 2023, a man was convicted after wearing an offensive t-shirt in Prestwich’s Jewish community, with prosecutors successfully arguing that deliberately targeting an area with a large Jewish population to provoke a reaction constituted a hate crime.
Matthew Siddall, a Senior Crown Prosecutor at CPS North West, stated in that case: “While individuals have a right to freedom of expression, we won’t hesitate to prosecute those who deliberately undermine public order by demonstrating hostility to anyone’s race or religion.
Wider Context of Online Harassment
The use of social media platforms to broadcast antisemitic harassment represents a growing concern for law enforcement and community safety organisations. The pursuit of viral content and online engagement has created incentives for increasingly provocative behaviour, with minority communities often bearing the brunt of such “pranks”.
CST’s latest report noted that 572 online antisemitic incidents were reported in the first half of 2025, accounting for 38 per cent of all incidents. The intersection of online and offline harassment, as demonstrated in these water pistol attacks, shows how social media can amplify the impact of hate crimes.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper recently acknowledged that antisemitic incidents and crimes “remain shamefully and persistently high”, pledging continued government support for community security measures and law enforcement responses.
As the police investigation continues, community leaders have urged anyone who witnessed the incidents or has information about the perpetrators to come forward. The message from both law enforcement and community organisations is clear: targeting individuals based on their faith, regardless of the claimed intent, constitutes a hate crime and will be prosecuted accordingly.
The Jewish community in Manchester, whilst shaken by these latest incidents, remains resilient. However, the normalisation of such harassment as entertainment content represents a concerning development that authorities are determined to address through both criminal prosecution and community education.
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