UK police investigate antisemitic attack on Jewish community vehicles
LONDON: British authorities have arrested two men in connection with an antisemitic arson attack on four ambulances belonging to a Jewish community organization in north London. The attack occurred early Monday while the vehicles were parked next to a synagogue in Golders Green, an area with a large Jewish population.
The men, aged 47 and 45, were taken into custody by counter-terrorism detectives on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life, as police searched their central and northwestern London addresses. Officials said a third suspect is believed to still be at large.
Group Claims Responsibility with Possible Iranian Links
Police are investigating an online claim of responsibility from a little-known Islamist group called Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiya (HAYI), or the Islamic Movement of the People of the Right Hand. The group has reportedly carried out similar attacks in Belgium and the Netherlands.
In Belgium, two minors were arrested on Tuesday after a car was set on fire in Antwerp’s Jewish quarter, also claimed by HAYI. Monitoring services say the group may be aligned with Iran, prompting heightened security concerns.
London Police Chief Mark Rowley stated the investigation is pursuing “all lines of enquiry” and noted the group’s history of attacks across Europe. Helen Flanagan, head of counterterrorism policing in London, called the arrests an “important breakthrough” but warned that the investigation remains active, citing CCTV footage suggesting at least three people were involved in Monday’s incident.
Targeted Jewish Community Ambulances
The ambulances belonged to Hatzola, a volunteer Jewish organization established in 1979 that provides free medical transportation and emergency response to both Jewish and non-Jewish residents of north London.
The arson comes amid a rise in antisemitic incidents in the UK, including a fatal attack on a Manchester synagogue during Yom Kippur in October 2025 and a foiled Islamic State-inspired gun attack on another Jewish gathering. Recently, two Iranians appeared in a London court accused of spying on the Jewish community on behalf of Tehran.
Outlook
Authorities continue to hunt for the remaining suspect and are urging the public to remain vigilant. The attack has heightened concerns within London’s Jewish community about antisemitic threats and extremist activity with international ties.
Source: BBC & The Times of Israel