Two teenage girls were arrested after a Jewish woman was left bruised following a robbery that is being treated as a “possible hate crime”.

The female victim, 20, was approached by two girls on Rostrevor Avenue in Tottenham on Thursday (December 7) at around 4.30pm, when she was assaulted and had her handbag stolen.

The woman suffered bruising and was left very shaken, despite not needing hospital treatment.

CCTV images captured suggested the suspects wore school uniform, and detectives worked with school officers, including those from neighbouring boroughs, to confirm their identity.

On Sunday (December 10), police went to an address in Haringey and arrested two girls aged 13 and 14 on suspicion of robbery.

They have been released under investigation while enquiries into the circumstances remain ongoing.

Detective Sergeant Asli Benson, who has led the investigation, said: “This was a terrifying incident for the young woman who was attacked. We will continue to ensure she has the right support.

“Officers have been pursuing all available lines of enquiry since the incident and these arrests are a very positive development.

“The victim is from the orthodox Jewish community. It would have been obvious from her appearance that she was Jewish and there has been significant concern that she was targeted for that reason.

“In the current climate, when fears and uncertainty in the wider Jewish community are heightened following the terror attacks in Israel and the subsequent rise in antisemitic hate crime here in London, these concerns are entirely understandable.

“While we are keeping an open mind as to the motive behind the incident and will continue to explore all avenues, we are treating this as a possible hate crime.”

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 quoting reference CAD 5505/07Dec.

Alternatively, share information anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.