Arson attack on Jewish charity ambulances investigated by counter-terror police

Arson Attack on Jewish Charity Ambulances Investigated

The Metropolitan Police is treating an arson attack on four Jewish charity-owned ambulances in north London as an antisemitic hate crime. The incident occurred in Golders Green early Monday morning, with explosions caused by gas canisters on the vehicles. No arrests have been made, but CCTV footage showing three suspects in black setting fire to an ambulance is being investigated.

Det Ch Supt Luke Williams stated that the attack has not yet been declared a terror incident. A claim of responsibility appears to have come from an Iran-aligned group, Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiya, though its authenticity remains unconfirmed. The London Fire Brigade responded to 56 calls and brought the fires under control within two hours.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood urged anyone with information to contact police, emphasizing that the perpetrators must be held accountable. The attack has been widely condemned by UK leaders, including Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, who described it as a 'dark day' for London.

The Hatzola organisation, which provides emergency medical services to the Jewish community, has been targeted. Its representative called the attack 'shocking' given their mission to save lives. The government is funding the replacement of the destroyed ambulances, and GoFundMe pages have raised tens of thousands for the effort.

Police are conducting additional patrols and have received assistance from faith leaders. The incident has heightened concerns about rising antisemitism in the UK following recent global tensions, including the Hamas attacks in Israel.