British police arrested two men on Wednesday in connection with an arson attack on four ambulances belonging to a Jewish charity. The incident, which occurred in Golders Green, London, is being investigated as an antisemitic hate crime.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed that the two men, aged 45 and 47, were arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life. Commander Helen Flanagan, head of Counter Terrorism Policing London, described the arrests as a significant breakthrough. However, surveillance footage suggests three individuals were involved in the attack.
The blaze destroyed four ambulances operated by Hatzola Northwest, a volunteer organization. Oxygen cylinders on the vehicles exploded, causing damage to a nearby apartment block. The attack has heightened tensions in the community, already on edge due to rising antisemitism and ongoing conflicts in the Middle East.
Police are also investigating a claim of responsibility posted on social media by a group with suspected links to Iran. The group, Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia, has previously claimed responsibility for attacks on synagogues in Belgium and the Netherlands. Metropolitan Police chief Mark Rowley stated that it is too early to attribute the attack to the Iranian state.
The UK has accused Iran of using criminal proxies to target opposition media and Jewish communities in Europe. According to Britain’s MI5 domestic intelligence service, more than 20 Iran-backed plots were disrupted in the past year alone.