British counter‑terrorism officers are leading an investigation into a suspected antisemitic arson attack after four ambulances operated by a Jewish charity were set alight in north London in the early hours of Monday. The vehicles, belonging to the volunteer emergency medical service Hatzola Northwest, were parked near a synagogue in the Golders Green area when the blaze broke out at about 1.40 a.m., police and fire officials said.
The London Fire Brigade mobilised six fire engines and around 40 firefighters to tackle the flames, which caused several explosions as oxygen canisters inside the vehicles ignited. While no injuries have been reported, nearby windows were shattered and around 30 residents were temporarily displaced by the blasts, according to local investigators.
CCTV footage released by police appears to show three hooded individuals pouring a flammable accelerant onto the ambulances before setting them alight and fleeing the scene. At this stage, counter‑terrorism officers from the Metropolitan Police Service are examining all lines of inquiry, including the possibility that the attack was motivated by hatred towards the Jewish community.
Although the incident has not yet been officially classified as a terrorist act, counter‑terror police are involved to ensure specialist resources are available, detectives said. Officers have also noted an online claim of responsibility by a group calling itself Harakat Ashab al‑Yamin al‑Islamia — understood to be an Iran‑aligned militant network that has claimed involvement in recent attacks on Jewish sites in parts of Europe — but authorities have stressed the authenticity of that claim has not been verified.
The attack has drawn swift condemnation from political and religious leaders. Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the arson as a “deeply shocking antisemitic attack” and reiterated that hatred and bigotry have no place in British society. Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis called the targeting of ambulances — vehicles that serve life‑saving roles for people of all backgrounds — a “particularly sickening assault” on shared civic values.
Community leaders in Golders Green, a neighbourhood with a significant Jewish population, said the incident has shaken residents and heightened fears about rising antisemitism in the UK. Many in the community described the blaze as an attack not only on Jewish life but on neighbours and volunteers who provide emergency assistance to all in the capital.
Police have urged anyone with relevant information to come forward as the investigation continues, while local authorities and Jewish organisations are stepping up security measures around places of worship and community centres.
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