Counter-terror police investigating arson attack on Jewish charity’s ambulances in London
PM and mayor among those to condemn torching of vehicles with Met treating it as antisemitic hate crime
Counter-terrorism officers are leading an investigation into an arson attack on four ambulances in north London belonging to a Jewish community service, police have said.
Officers were called to Highfield Road in Golders Green at about 1.45am on Monday after receiving reports of ambulances on fire near the Machzike Hadath synagogue and were looking for three suspects, the Metropolitan police said.
The torched emergency vehicles were run by Hatzola, a Jewish charity that was established in 1979 and is run by volunteers, providing free medical transportation and emergency response to people in north London.
The Met said the incident was being treated as an antisemitic hate crime. In an update on Monday, Scotland Yard said it was aware that a group had claimed responsibility online for the attack but it had not verified the claim.
The Guardian understands that the Iran-linked Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia (HAYI) group shared a claim of responsibility that had been broadcast across pro-Iranian groups on the messaging service Telegram.
Speaking at the scene of the fires, DCS Luke Williams said the attack had not been declared a terrorist incident although counter-terrorism policing were leading the investigation. He said: “We believe we are looking for three suspects at this early stage. CCTV footage appears to show three people in hoods pouring an accelerant on to the vehicles before igniting them and fleeing.
“While this has not been declared a terrorist incident at this stage, the investigation is now being led by counter-terrorism policing with all the specialist expertise they bring, and all lines of enquiry remain open. We are aware of an online claim from a group taking responsibility for this attack. Establishing the authenticity and accuracy of this claim will be a priority for the investigation team but it is not something we can confirm at this point.”
No arrests had been made, Williams added. Oxygen canisters in the vehicles exploded in the heat of the fire, causing damage to the windows of nearby residential properties, he said. Thirty-four residents were temporarily displaced while the fire was brought under the control.
The HAYI group posted a video online claiming responsibility for the attack, containing text in Hebrew, English and Arabic.
The English reads: “The Machzike Hadath Synagogue in London is one of the important centers of Orthodox Judaism, and its deepest connection to Israel is through Rabbi Abraham Isaac HaCohen Kook, the first Chief Rabbi of Israel and one of the most influential thinkers of Religious Zionism, who served at this synagogue before immigrating to the Land of Israel.
“This historical bond continues to this day, and the synagogue has become one of the main bastions of support for Israel in Britain; so much so that in June 2024, Rishi Sunak, the former British Prime Minister, visited this site amidst the Gaza war to affirm, alongside his expression of solidarity with the Jewish community, his country’s unwavering support for Israel.”
Keir Starmer denounced the incident as a shocking attack on London’s Jewish community, while the city’s mayor, Sadiq Khan, called it cowardly. The UK’s chief rabbi, Ephraim Mirvis, described it as a “sickening assault – not only on the Jewish community, but on the values we share as a society”.
Starmer said: “This is a deeply shocking antisemitic arson attack. My thoughts are with the Jewish community who are waking up this morning to this horrific news.” He added: “Antisemitism has no place in our society. Anyone with any information must come forward to the police.”
Speaking from the scene, the health secretary, Wes Streeting, said the government would fund the replacement of the community ambulances.
Khan said: “This is a cowardly attack on the Jewish community. I am in close contact with the police who are stepping up patrols in the area, and I urge anyone with information to come forward. Londoners will never be cowed by this kind of hatred and intimidation.”
In a statement on X, Mirvis said: “Our Hatzola volunteer ambulance corps is an extraordinary service, whose sole mission is to protect life, Jewish and non-Jewish alike. The targeting of Hatzola by people so committed to terror, hatred and the desecration of life is a most painful illustration of the ongoing battle between those who sanctify life and those who seek to destroy it.”
The London fire brigade (LFB) said it sent six fire engines and about 40 firefighters to the fire, which damaged four vehicles. No injuries were initially reported.
Shomrim, a non-profit organisation that operates a neighbourhood watch in the Golders Green neighbourhood, said it was “aware of loud explosions” early on Monday morning.
“Emergency services are on scene following a deliberate incident involving #Hatzola ambulances being set alight,” the group said in a post on X. “The explosions were caused by oxygen tanks not a bomb or explosive device. Although some buildings have been evacuated no casualties have been reported. Please avoid the area while investigations continue.”
Shomrim said the facility run by Hatzola remained fully operational.
Dean Cohen, a Golders Green ward councillor who was at the scene, told Jewish News that the fact the incident had taken place in the “car park of a synagogue is particularly chilling and will send shock waves through our community at a time of already heightened fears over antisemitism in the UK”.
The Community Security Trust confirmed in a statement on X that it was assisting police in their inquiries. “We are aware of multiple Hatzola ambulances that have been deliberately set alight in London,” it said. “This has obvious comparison to similar antisemitic arson attacks recently in Belgium and the Netherlands. No injuries have been reported at this time and we are helping MPSBarnet with their inquiries.”