Counter-terror police are investigating a suspected arson attack on a memorial wall in Golders Green, north London, after a man dressed in black was seen setting fire to part of the tribute in the early hours of Monday morning.
The wall, situated on Limes Avenue opposite the Michael Sobell Jewish Community Centre and behind the Beis Hamedrash Kehal Chasidim synagogue, carries photographs of people killed in the October 7th attack in Israel alongside images of thousands of protesters who died during anti-regime demonstrations in Iran last January. While the wall itself was not damaged, a display unit showed visible burn and charring marks and a number of photographs and printed materials were destroyed by fire. Burnt items were later found discarded in a nearby bin.
CCTV footage showed a person using a liquid to try to start the blaze. The damage was discovered by a volunteer at 7am on Monday; the site had last been seen intact at around 1am by an overnight volunteer. Despite the involvement of Counter-Terrorism Policing London, who are leading the investigation with support from officers in the North West Command Area, the incident is not currently being treated as a terrorist incident. No arrests have been made.
A shared space of mourning
The memorial’s dual purpose reflects the layered grief of two communities that have come together in Golders Green. Haleh Blake, co-founder of the activist group United4Mahsa, explained that the wall was first used by the Jewish community for pictures of the October 7th hostages and victims. The community then gave the wall over to the local Iranian diaspora for photographs of their loved ones. “When they know someone has died, they print out a photo and take it to the wall,” she said. “It is really significant and the community will be really emotional about it.”
Vahid Baghi, one of the organisers who looks after the memorial, described the attack as “terrible”. He said he had put security in place but the man in black still managed to set fire to part of the memorial. “Everybody here is my family. Nobody here is alone,” he said. “The police are hunting for him — it’s a great shock.” Volunteers have reported increased danger around the wall in recent weeks, including a drone being seen overhead the previous week and people throwing tomatoes. Security measures were introduced three months ago because of safety concerns.
Lisa Marlowe, whose son Jake was killed on October 7th while working as unarmed security at the Nova music festival, came to the wall after hearing about the suspected arson. “This is despicable, it’s disgusting,” she said. “My son was unarmed security at the Nova festival. It’s heartbreaking what is happening to the Jewish people. I came to check my son’s image on the wall and check in on him.”
A spokesperson for the Persian Advice Bureau, a charity that provides assistance to asylum seekers and refugees, said the attack constituted a “disrespect for the 40,000 that were massacred on the 8th and 9th of January by the Iranian regime” and argued that “Iranians are under threat now”.
Police response and wider pattern of attacks
Detective Chief Superintendent Luke Williams, who leads policing in north west London, acknowledged that the incident will heighten concerns in the Golders Green area. “We recognise that this incident will heighten concerns in the Golders Green area, where residents have already faced a series of attacks,” he said. “We are working closely with community organisations and leaders, and want to reassure them that our protective security operation continues. Our local officers are working closely with Counter Terror Policing to support their investigation.”
Police have stepped up their work to reassure communities since last month’s attack in Golders Green, Williams said. This includes armed police patrols as well as deployments of officers from Project Servator, who are specially trained to spot anyone who may be planning or preparing to commit criminal acts. Additional funding has been allocated to increase Project Servator deployments, particularly in London and Manchester, to support communities and deter criminal activity.
The Golders Green area has been the target of a series of attacks in recent weeks. On March 23rd, four ambulances belonging to the Jewish volunteer emergency service Hatzola were set on fire in an incident being treated as an antisemitic hate crime. A group calling itself Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia claimed responsibility for that attack and said it would “keep threatening U.S. and Israeli interests worldwide until we’ve avenged every child in Gaza, Iran, Lebanon, and the resistance nations”. On April 15th, bottles containing accelerants were placed next to the Finchley Reform Synagogue in an attempted attack, and a burning container was thrown into the car park of Iran International’s office. On April 19th, the Kenton United Synagogue was firebombed, causing minor smoke damage; a 17-year-old later pleaded guilty in that incident.
Counter-terrorism officers have arrested more than two dozen people in connection with attacks on Jewish-linked premises over the past month. Two men were arrested under terrorism laws in relation to a separate incident and subsequently released. In total, 26 arrests have been made across various investigations, with eight people charged and one convicted.
Separately, the Iranian Embassy in London has promoted a “martyrdom” initiative called “Jan Fada” (meaning “sacrificing life”), encouraging supporters in Britain to sign up. Critics have warned the program could be interpreted as encouraging violence, and the UK government summoned Iran’s ambassador over what it described as “unacceptable” embassy posts. The memorial wall is understood to pay tribute to protesters killed by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The Community Security Trust recorded 3,700 antisemitic incidents in the UK in 2025, and the Board of Deputies of British Jews expressed solidarity with the British-Iranian community following the arson.
Police have appealed for anyone with information to call 101, quoting CAD 7308/27Apr, or to contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
