London, United Kingdom. British police are investigating possible Iran links to a series of arson attacks on Jewish targets in London, after a third incident in a week at Kenton United Synagogue. UK Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis said the attacks indicated a sustained campaign of violence against the Jewish community was gathering momentum.
Latest incident and counter-terrorism investigation
Police said the latest attack took place shortly after midnight at Kenton United Synagogue in the Harrow area of London and did not cause significant damage. UK counter-terrorism police said they were leading investigations into the incidents.
Group claims responsibility and possible Iran links
A pro-Iranian government group, which has said it is behind a spate of attacks across Europe on U.S., Israeli and Jewish targets, said it was responsible for the London incidents.
Vicki Evans, Britain’s senior national coordinator for Counter Terrorism Policing, said police and partners remained alert to the threat of Iranian hostile activity in the UK as the Middle East conflict continued to evolve. She said police were aware of public reporting suggesting the group may have links to Iran and would continue to explore that question as the investigation developed.
Chief rabbi’s response
Mirvis said the Kenton fire was the third “cowardly” attack on Jewish sites in London in less than a week. In a post on X, he said a sustained campaign of violence and intimidation against the Jewish community in the UK was gathering momentum, adding that no lives had been lost.
Other incidents in London
Police said there was an attempted arson attack on Friday night on business premises with links to the Jewish community. A few days earlier, police arrested two suspects over an attempted arson attack on another synagogue in the capital.
An area around the Israeli embassy in London was also cordoned off following an online report that it had been targeted with drones carrying “dangerous substances.” Police later said items found did not contain any harmful or hazardous substances.
Last month, several ambulances belonging to the Jewish volunteer emergency service Hatzola, which were parked near a synagogue in Golders Green, were torched.
What measures should authorities take to address repeated attacks on religious and community sites in London?
