In a shocking incident of antisemitic violence, a Jewish family in London was forced to throw their baby from a second-story window to escape a deliberately set fire. The arsonist, 64-year-old Ian Pitkin, has been sentenced to life in prison for the attack.
Pitkin, a resident of Hackney, set fire to his own apartment on March 20, 2024, in an attempt to harm the Jewish family living above him. The Wood Green Crown Court found that his actions were motivated by hostility towards people of Jewish faith.
The fire, which broke out at 12:45 p.m., forced several residents to jump from windows to escape the flames. One member of the targeted Jewish family suffered a fractured hip in the escape. Remarkably, the family's baby was safely caught after being thrown from the window.
Police discovered that Pitkin had meticulously planned the attack. A search of his vehicle revealed jerry cans filled with petrol, air weapons, knives, and hammers. Detective Chief Superintendent James Conway stated, "This incident was pre-planned, rather than spontaneous, with Pitkin purchasing jerry cans and petrol in the week prior to the incident."
The court sentenced Pitkin to a minimum of six years and 17 days in prison. He pleaded guilty to arson with intent to endanger life, possession of imitation firearms, and having offensive weapons in a public place.
The Jerusalem Post contributed to this article.