An Islamist group with possible links to the Iranian regime has claimed responsibility for an arson attack on community ambulances in North London, with police investigating the assertion.
Four ambulances from Hatzola, a Jewish-led service run by volunteers, were set on fire in Golders Green during the early hours of Monday, in what the Met Police is treating as an antisemitic hate crime.
A video allegedly posted on Telegram by Islamist group Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia showed a map of the location where the ambulances were kept and footage of them on fire.
Head of the Met Police Sir Mark Rowley said there had been “rapid growth” of Iranian state threats in the UK, but declared it too early to determine who was behind the ambulance attack.
“The rapid growth in recent years of Iranian state threats is grave: hostile state surveillance activity, 20 disrupted plots, and recent attempted attacks on the Iranian diaspora,” Rowley said during the annual dinner of the Community Security Trust (CST), a charity that monitors antisemitism in the UK, on Monday.
“None of this is isolated. It is part of a rapidly shifting threat landscape.
“It is too early for me to attribute last night’s attack in Golders Green to the Iranian state – that is rightly for the counter-terrorism investigation to determine – but whoever was responsible, the impact is serious.
“We believe three suspects were involved and we are pursuing all lines of inquiry, including an online claim of responsibility by an Islamist group who have claimed other attacks across Europe and have potential Iranian state links.”
Counter-terrorism police are leading the investigation and they say more than 200 extra officers will be deployed to protect Jewish communities in the wake of the attack.
They are also looking at the apparent claims by Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia.
Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor said: “That is one of the lines of inquiry that we are progressing.
“We know that online, they have laid claim to a number of incidents across Europe, and so it’s obviously very important for us to understand what is behind the attack in Golders Green, and what the motivation of those individuals was.
“But critically, we want to get them into custody as quickly as we can and bring them to justice.”
Police and the security services have increasingly seen hostile states including Iran, China and Russia using proxies to carry out subversive activities on UK soil.
Rowley continued: “Britain’s Jewish community has in recent years been increasingly targeted by individuals, groups and hostile states, intent on spreading fear, hate and harm.
“This volatile mix is at the front of my mind given events of today.”
CCTV footage of the arson attack showed three people in hoods pouring accelerant on the ambulances, setting them on fire and running away during the early hours of Monday.
It is being treated as an antisemitic hate crime, but not a terrorist act, Scotland Yard has said.
Rowley praised the “extraordinary speed and professionalism” of local volunteers, CST teams, synagogue security and Hatzola staff, which he said “quite literally protected lives”, alongside the actions of Met officers.
CCTV shows three people in hoods pouring accelerant on the vehicles. Credit: Jewish Community Council
“Let us be clear about what was targeted: a volunteer ambulance service that serves everyone, of every background,” he continued.
“An attack on Hatzola is not only an attack on the Jewish community but an attack on all of us.”
Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the attack on the ambulances on Monday morning, describing it as a “horrific antisemitic attack” and stating that he had been in touch with community leaders.
“Antisemitism has no place in our society and it’s really important that we all stand together in a moment like this,” Starmer said.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting confirmed that the government will fund replacement ambulances for the community, as well as supplying immediate health support.
The ambulances were set alight on Highfield Road at about 1.45am on Monday. Gas canisters kept in the vehicles exploded in the fire and the force shattered nearby windows, including those of a synagogue.
No injuries were reported, and six fire engines with around 40 firefighters attended the scene to fight the blaze.
One man, who lives in Highfield Road, said: “My wife was afraid for her life. People were shouting to just grab a bag and leave but did not tell us where to go. It was very scary and I’m still shaking now.”
Detective Chief Superintendent Luke Williams, who leads policing for the area, said on Monday investigators are aware of a group apparently claiming responsibility for the attack online, but confirmed this had not been verified.
Jewish leaders met Starmer in Downing Street on Monday, and Michael Wegier, chief executive of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, said Jews in the UK feel less safe now than in the years previous.
More than 250 people attended a rally against antisemitism in Golders Green on Monday evening, with some waving Israeli flags and chanting “Keir Starmer, Jew harmer”, according to the Press Association.
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