Four ambulances belonging to Jewish volunteer group in London targeted in arson attack

POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING an antisemitic hate crime after an apparent arson attack on four ambulances belonging to the Jewish Community Ambulance service in London, UK police have said.

Officers were called to Highfield Road, Golders Green around 1.45am this morning after receiving reports of a fire.

Police confirmed the incident is being treated as an antisemitic hate crime, while the London Fire Brigade said no injuries had been reported and declared under control shortly after 3am.

Superintendent Sarah Jackson, who leads policing in the local area, said that the incident “will cause a great deal of community concern”.

“We are in the process of examining CCTV and are aware of online footage. We believe we are looking for three suspects at this early stage,” Jackson said.

“There have been no arrests yet, and we would urge anyone with information to please contact us as soon as possible – you can do so anonymously if you wish.

“We will be engaging with faith leaders and carrying out additional patrols in the local area as we continue our investigation to provide reassurance and a highly visible presence.”

Police said reports of explosions are believed to be linked to gas canisters on board the ambulances.

And while the incident has not been declared a terrorist incident at this stage, the Met this evening said that “due to the circumstances of the incident and specialist capability within Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP), officers from CTP London are leading the investigation”.

Detectives said they are also aware of an online claim from a group taking responsibility for the attack and enquiries are ongoing to establish the authenticity and accuracy of this claim.

Nearby homes were evacuated as a precaution and road closures in the area remain in place.

UK Health Secretary Wes Streeting described the incident as a “sickening attack on Jewish ambulances”. 

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Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis said in a statement on X that the arson attacks “are a particularly sickening assault – not only on the Jewish community, but on the values we share as a society.”

“Our Hatzola volunteer ambulance corps is an extraordinary service, whose sole mission is to protect life, Jewish and non-Jewish alike,” Mirvis said.

“The targeting of Hatzola by people so committed to terror, hatred and the desecration of life is a most painful illustration of the ongoing battle between those who sanctify life and those who seek to destroy it.

“At a time when Jewish communities around the world are facing a growing pattern of these violent attacks, we will meet this moment with shared resolve and stand together against hatred and intimidation.”

Shomrim, a non-profit organisation which operates a neighbourhood watch in the Golders Green neighbourhood, said it was “aware of loud explosions” early on Monday morning.

“The explosions were caused by oxygen tanks not a bomb or explosive device. Although some buildings have been evacuated no casualties have been reported,” the group said in a post on social media.

Shomrim said Northwest London facility run by fellow Jewish charity Hatzola remained fully operational.

Hatzola, which was established in 1979 and is run by volunteers, provides free medical transportation and emergency response to those living in North London.

The fire brigade said around 40 firefighters were called to the fires and that multiple cylinders on the vehicles had exploded, causing windows to break in nearby flats.

Golders Green ward councillor Dean Cohen, who was at the scene, told Jewish News the fact the incident was taking place in the “car park of a synagogue is particularly chilling and will send shockwaves through our community at a time of already heightened fears over antisemitism in the UK”.

Community Security Trust (CST), a charity which monitors antisemitism in the UK, confirmed in a statement on X that it was assisting police in their enquiries.