Why are Adam Bedoui and Abdelkader Bousloub convicted? Adam Bedoui, aged 20, and Abdelkader Bousloub, aged 21, both of Hillingdon, west London, pleaded guilty on 9 May 2026 to a religiously aggravated public order offence after they travelled to a predominantly Jewish area of Hackney, verbally abused a Jewish man, and filmed the attack for TikTok. They will appear for sentencing at Thames Magistrates Court on Friday 5 June 2026.

What Happened in Hackney?

At around 21:00hrs on Thursday 7 May 2026, police were called to Clapton Common in Hackney, east London — an area with a significant Jewish community. Adam Bedoui and Abdelkader Bousloub had travelled there deliberately, targeting the area because of its Jewish character. Once there, the pair approached a Jewish man, subjected him to verbal antisemitic abuse, and filmed the encounter on their phones with the intention of uploading it to TikTok.

Both men attempted to flee when police officers arrived at the scene, but were detained quickly. The Metropolitan Police confirmed they acted within 48 hours of the incident to arrest, charge, and bring both men before the courts. Detective Superintendent Oliver Richter, who leads policing in Hackney and Tower Hamlets, described the attack as “a deliberate and targeted antisemitic attack, aggravated by the pair’s intention to post the incident on social media to spread hatred.”

The attack was not a random or impulsive encounter. Police established that Bedoui and Bousloub had travelled from their home area of Hillingdon, in west London, to Hackney specifically to target Jewish people. The plan to film and publish the abuse on TikTok was considered an aggravating factor by the Metropolitan Police and in the subsequent legal proceedings.

Who Are Adam Bedoui and Abdelkader Bousloub?

Adam Bedoui was born on 24 May 2005 and was 20 years old at the time of the offence. He lives on Park Lodge Avenue, Hillingdon, in the London Borough of Hillingdon. Abdelkader Bousloub was born on 26 February 2005 and was also 21 years old at the time of the incident. He lives on Merrivale Mews, also in Hillingdon. Both men are young adults from the same area of west London who knew each other and acted together in planning and carrying out the attack.

Neither man had been named in significant prior public court proceedings. The Metropolitan Police confirmed that two other men aged 20 and a man aged 21 were also arrested in connection with the incident and have been released on bail pending further enquiries. Those individuals have not been charged at this stage.

What Is the Charge and What Does It Mean?

Both men pleaded guilty to a religiously aggravated public order offence. Under section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986, it is an offence to use threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour within the hearing or sight of a person likely to be caused harassment, alarm or distress. Where this is aggravated by religious hostility under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, the offence is treated more seriously and carries a higher maximum penalty.

A religiously aggravated public order offence can be proven where the defendant demonstrates, or is motivated by, hostility based on the religion of the victim, or where the offence is committed in circumstances that demonstrate such hostility. In this case, the deliberate targeting of a Jewish man in a Jewish area, combined with antisemitic verbal abuse, provided the basis for the aggravated charge.

The maximum sentence for a religiously aggravated version of the section 5 offence at the magistrates court level is greater than for the non-aggravated equivalent. Magistrates have the power to impose a custodial sentence, a community order, or a financial penalty depending on the circumstances of the case. The sentencing guidelines take into account the nature of the offence, the degree of planning, and any impact on the victim and the wider community.

Conviction and Upcoming Sentencing

Both Adam Bedoui and Abdelkader Bousloub appeared at Thames Magistrates Court on Saturday 9 May 2026, where they each entered a guilty plea. This means that no trial took place; the conviction was secured through the admission of guilt by both defendants. The case proceeded quickly — just 48 hours elapsed between the commission of the offence and the court appearance.

Sentencing has been adjourned to Friday 5 June 2026 at Thames Magistrates Court. At that hearing, the magistrates will consider the facts of the case, any pre-sentence reports, and representations from both prosecution and defence before deciding on the appropriate penalty. As the guilty plea was entered at the first opportunity, this may be taken into account in mitigation during sentencing.

It is worth noting that both men were not remanded in custody following their guilty pleas, meaning they have been released pending the sentencing hearing on 5 June. This does not indicate the likely outcome of sentencing, which could still include a custodial sentence depending on the seriousness with which the court views the offence.

Wider Context: Met Police and Antisemitism

The case comes at a time of heightened concern about antisemitic hate crime in London. The Metropolitan Police confirmed that in the four weeks prior to 9 May 2026, approximately 50 people had been arrested for antisemitic hate crimes across the capital, with 10 individuals charged. The force also announced the creation of a new dedicated Community Protection Team specifically to tackle antisemitic hate crimes, reflecting the scale of the problem and the force’s commitment to addressing it.

The Hackney case follows the separate Enfield case involving Dylan Ossei, also charged in May 2026 with an antisemitic attack, and highlights a pattern of antisemitic targeting of Jewish communities in north and east London in particular. The Met has stated that it will act decisively against individuals who commit hate crimes, and the swift prosecution of Bedoui and Bousloub within 48 hours of the offence has been highlighted as an example of this approach.

If someone you know has been affected by a hate crime and is in contact with the criminal justice system, our guide on how to book a prison visit and our page on the Parole Board UK may be useful resources. You can also read more about how to send money to a prisoner.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are Adam Bedoui and Abdelkader Bousloub convicted?

Adam Bedoui and Abdelkader Bousloub are convicted because they both pleaded guilty to a religiously aggravated public order offence on 9 May 2026 at Thames Magistrates Court. They deliberately travelled to Clapton Common in Hackney, a predominantly Jewish area, verbally abused a Jewish man in an antisemitic manner, and filmed the attack for TikTok.

When are Adam Bedoui and Abdelkader Bousloub being sentenced?

Adam Bedoui and Abdelkader Bousloub are due to be sentenced on Friday 5 June 2026 at Thames Magistrates Court. They entered guilty pleas on 9 May 2026 and the sentencing hearing was adjourned to allow time for pre-sentence reports to be prepared.

What is a religiously aggravated public order offence?

A religiously aggravated public order offence is a criminal offence under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, where a standard public order offence is motivated by, or accompanied by, hostility based on the religion of the victim. It carries a higher maximum sentence than the non-aggravated equivalent and reflects the additional harm caused by hate crime to both individual victims and the wider community.

Why did Bedoui and Bousloub go to Hackney?

Metropolitan Police and court proceedings confirmed that Bedoui and Bousloub deliberately travelled from their home in Hillingdon, west London, to Clapton Common in Hackney, which is a predominantly Jewish area. Their intention was to target Jewish people and film the encounter for posting on TikTok. The deliberate and premeditated nature of the visit is an aggravating factor in the case.

Are Adam Bedoui and Abdelkader Bousloub in prison?

As of May 2026, Adam Bedoui and Abdelkader Bousloub are not in prison. They have been convicted following guilty pleas but were not remanded in custody. They are due to be sentenced at Thames Magistrates Court on 5 June 2026, at which point the court will decide on the appropriate penalty, which may or may not include a custodial sentence.