The arson attack occurred at approximately 01:30 on Monday morning, with the ambulances parked outside a synagogue in Golders Green. The incident is being investigated as an antisemitic hate crime. Gas canisters or oxygen tanks in the ambulances exploded during the fire, causing loud explosions and breaking windows in nearby buildings.
Surveillance footage shows three people with hoods pouring what is believed to be flammable liquid on the ambulances, according to police sources. Counter-terrorism police are leading the investigation, authorities stated. No injuries were reported.
Two men, aged 45 and 47, were arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life and have been released on bail, police confirmed. Three individuals—Hamza Iqbal, 20; Rehan Khan, 19; and a 17-year-old boy—have been charged with arson being reckless as to whether life would be endangered, court records show. The Iran-linked group Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia (HAYI) has claimed responsibility for the attack on Telegram.
The claim of responsibility has not been verified, and police are working to authenticate it, officials noted. Detectives are investigating potential links with a terror group backed by the Iranian regime, sources indicated. The attack has not been designated as a terrorist incident at this stage, police emphasized.
Nearby homes were evacuated as a precaution, and road closures remain in place, local reports stated. The Community Security Trust (CST) is assisting police in their enquiries, the organization said. A man was asking locals questions about the ambulance service just hours before the attack, which has been reported to police, witnesses recounted.
The King is to become a patron of a security trust protecting Jewish people, palace announcements revealed. The Mayor of Bath shared and then deleted social media posts claiming the attack was an 'Israeli false flag' operation, and has apologized, according to his statements. There was an attempted arson attack at Finchley Reform Synagogue in north London, with two suspects throwing petrol bombs, treated as an antisemitic hate crime, police reported.
A fundraiser has raised nearly £2 million in the wake of the attack, organizers confirmed. Key unknowns include what specific evidence led police to investigate as an antisemitic hate crime and any connection between suspects and the HAYI group. Further investigation unknowns involve the status of verifying HAYI's claim and the total number of suspects.
Security measures are being implemented to protect Jewish communities, with increased patrols and community outreach efforts underway.