Two men have been arrested by counter-terrorism police investigating an arson attack on volunteer-led Jewish ambulances in north London.
The men, aged 47 and 45, were detained on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life on Wednesday morning, the Metropolitan Police said. The 47-year-old was arrested at an address in north-west London and the other at a property in central London. Both remain in police custody while officers conduct searches at the two addresses.
The arrests are linked to an arson attack in the early hours of Monday, 23 March, at approximately 01:35 GMT. Four ambulances belonging to the Hatzola service, a volunteer-led ambulance organisation serving the Jewish community, were set on fire while parked in the car park of a synagogue on Highfield Road in Golders Green. The vehicles were completely destroyed, and explosions from onboard oxygen cylinders shattered windows in a nearby apartment block, leading to the precautionary evacuation of some residents.
The hunt for further suspects
While the arrests mark a significant development, the investigation is far from over. Commander Helen Flanagan, Head of Counter Terrorism Policing London, which is leading the probe, stated that CCTV footage suggests at least three people were involved. She emphasised that work to identify and arrest all perpetrators continues.
Detectives are also examining an online claim of responsibility. The Metropolitan Police are aware of a claim from a group with alleged links to Iran, identified as Ashab Al Yamin, also referred to as the Islamic Movement of the People of the Right Hand. This group has claimed responsibility for similar fires in Belgium, Greece, and the Netherlands. Enquiries are ongoing to establish the authenticity and accuracy of this claim in relation to the London incident.
The police are treating the attack as an antisemitic hate crime. While it has not been formally declared a terrorist incident, counter-terrorism police are leading the investigation, keeping all lines of inquiry open. The public appeal for information remains active, with an online portal set up for video footage and a dedicated reference number: 415 of 23 March.
A vital community service targeted
The attack struck at a crucial community resource. Hatzola is a non-profit, volunteer-led ambulance service established in 1979. It provides pre-hospital emergency medical response and transportation at no cost, operating in areas including Golders Green, Hendon, and Finchley. The service is entirely funded by private donations and works in partnership with statutory services like the London Ambulance Service.
Its volunteers are qualified medics and paramedics, many of whom speak Yiddish or Hebrew and have specialised training regarding Jewish law in medical emergencies. The destruction of four vehicles represents a significant capital loss for the community, which has begun fundraising to replace them.
In response, Health Secretary Wes Streeting announced that the government would fund the replacement of the four destroyed ambulances and that the London Ambulance Service would provide additional cover in the interim. He described the attack as a “cowardly and despicable act of evil”. Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned it as a “deeply shocking antisemitic arson attack”.
Reassurance and enhanced patrols
Acknowledging heightened community concerns, police have implemented an enhanced policing plan. Detective Chief Superintendent Luke Williams, who leads policing in North West London, said specialist officers and visible armed patrols would be deployed in vulnerable areas across London as a precautionary deterrent.
Commander Flanagan thanked the local Jewish community for its support and reiterated the appeal for information, urging anyone with details to contact police on 101 or anonymously via Crimestoppers.
