London, United Kingdom. Four Jewish community ambulances were set ablaze in north London on Monday in what Prime Minister Keir Starmer called “a deeply shocking antisemitic arson attack”. No injuries were reported and no arrests have been made.
Fire brigade response and damage
The London Fire Brigade said it sent six fire engines and 40 firefighters to the scene. It said multiple cylinders on the vehicles exploded, shattering nearby windows.
Online claim of responsibility
The SITE Intelligence website said an Iran-aligned multinational militant collective called Islamic Movement of the People of the Right Hand had claimed responsibility for the attack near a synagogue in Golders Green. SITE said the group had been behind similar fires in Liege, Belgium, and Rotterdam and Amsterdam in the Netherlands.
Israeli embassy statement
The Israeli embassy in London said the firebombings followed years of “hate-filled marches” in support of the Palestinians, along with incitement and intimidation. In a post on X, it said, “Enough is enough,” and called for “decisive action to put an end to this climate of intimidation before it spirals further. Silence and inaction are no longer an option.”
Police investigation and footage
Police said the fires were being treated as an antisemitic hate crime and not as a terrorist incident, but that the investigation would be led by counter-terrorism officers who have specialist expertise. They said they could not confirm the authenticity of the online claim at this stage.
Security footage showed three men in hooded jackets approaching the ambulances before they were engulfed in flames.
Scene on Monday morning
During tense scenes on Monday morning, several men briefly challenged an Al Jazeera camera crew who were present. Others urged visiting health minister Wes Streeting to view a nearby wall covered in pictures of people killed in Iran.
What actions do you think authorities should prioritise to address antisemitic hate crimes in the UK?
