Counter-terrorism police are investigating a suspected arson attack on a memorial wall in Golders Green, north London, after a blaze was started in a cabinet next to the site in the early hours of 27 April.
The Charge
Ali Reza Fallahi, a 45-year-old dual British and Iranian national from Ilford, has been charged with arson in connection with the incident. He is accused of damaging by fire a memorial cabinet belonging to the Miga Rally community group, intending to destroy or damage the property or being reckless as to whether it would be destroyed or damaged. The charge falls under sections 1(1), (3) and 4 of the Criminal Damage Act 1971.
Fallahi is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Thursday 18 June. A 38-year-old woman who was also arrested in connection with the incident has been released with no further action.
According to Commander Helen Flanagan, head of Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP) London, the charge represents a step forward in investigations into a series of arson attacks targeting the Jewish community and the Iranian diaspora in London. She said the incident is not being treated as a terrorist attack, despite being investigated by counter-terrorism officers.
The Memorial Wall
The memorial wall, located on Limes Avenue in Golders Green, was established by the Miga Rally community group. It serves as a tribute to the thousands of protesters killed in a crackdown in Iran in January. A section of the wall is also dedicated to those killed in the Hamas attack on the Nova music festival in Israel on 7 October 2023.
The wall stands near a Jewish centre and a synagogue. The memorial space was gifted to the Iranian community by the local Jewish community, having previously paid tribute to victims of the 7 October attack. Miga Rally described it as “a peaceful place of remembrance, documenting lives lost and ensuring victims are not forgotten”.
The crackdown in Iran in January, following widespread protests, resulted in a significant loss of life. Iranian authorities acknowledged over 3,000 deaths, while international organisations and news agencies reported figures ranging from more than 7,000 to tens of thousands. The Hamas attack on the Nova music festival killed 364 people, with many more injured or taken hostage. Exhibits and memorials dedicated to the Nova festival victims have been established in various locations worldwide.
The fire was started at around 12:15am in a cabinet next to the wall. CCTV footage showed a person using a liquid to try to start the blaze. The Miga Rally community group said the fire was spotted and quickly extinguished and did not spread to the wall itself. The incident was reported to police around 7:30pm on the same day.
Community Reaction and Wider Context
After the incident, Miga Rally released a statement saying: “Any attempt to damage or desecrate such a site is deeply troubling and an attack on the values of remembrance, dignity and community cohesion. We hope those responsible will be identified and held accountable.”
Volunteers from Miga Rally had initiated security measures three months before the fire, citing a growing sense of being unsafe following incidents including a drone sighting and people throwing objects. The Golders Green area has seen a series of attacks, including the torching of four ambulances belonging to the Jewish volunteer emergency service Hatzola on 23 March.
The UK’s terror threat level was raised to “severe” from “substantial” in early May 2026, after a stabbing incident in Golders Green and other threats. A group calling itself Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia (HAYI) has claimed responsibility for some of the recent attacks and is suspected of being a front for Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Commander Flanagan confirmed that the current charge is part of a broader investigation into a series of arson attacks targeting Jewish and Iranian-diaspora sites in London.
