London, United Kingdom. A synagogue in north London was targeted in an attempted arson, according to the Community Security Trust, a charity that provides security for Britain’s Jewish community. The organisation said the incident caused minor smoke damage and no injuries.
Community Security Trust statement
The Community Security Trust said on Sunday it was aware of another attempted arson targeting a synagogue in north London, following similar recent incidents affecting the Jewish community in Finchley, Golders Green and Hendon. It said there was minor smoke damage to an internal room, but no injuries and no significant structural damage.
Police response and other recent incidents
There was no immediate comment from London’s police about the incident at Kenton United Synagogue. The report followed an attempted arson attack on Friday night on business premises with links to the Jewish community, and the earlier arrest of two suspects over an attempted arson attack on another synagogue in the capital.
Israeli embassy cordon and drone report
Police cordoned off an area around the Israeli embassy in London after an online report said it had been targeted with drones carrying “dangerous substances.” Police later said the items they found did not contain any harmful or hazardous substances.
Previous attack on emergency service vehicles
Last month, several ambulances belonging to the Jewish volunteer emergency service Hatzola, parked near a synagogue in Golders Green, were torched.
Chief Rabbi statement
Britain’s Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis said on X that another synagogue, this time in Kenton, had been targeted in what he described as a “cowardly arson attack.” He added that a sustained campaign of violence and intimidation against the Jewish community of the UK was gathering momentum.
Claim of responsibility
A pro-Iranian group, Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiyya, also known as Movement of the Companions of the Right Hand of Islam, has claimed responsibility for most of the incidents. The group posted on social media that it was behind the Kenton arson and shared a video it said showed the attack. It has also said it was responsible for attacks across Europe on U.S., Israeli and Jewish targets.
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