Investigation into Arson Attacks on London Jewish Community Sites

British police are investigating a series of arson attacks on Jewish community sites in London, including synagogues and charity ambulances. Multiple arrests have been made, and authorities are examining claims of responsibility from a group with alleged links to Iran.

Initial Attack on Charity Ambulances

The first in a recent series of incidents occurred in the early hours of Monday, March 23, 2026, in the Golders Green neighborhood of north London.

• Incident: Four ambulances belonging to Hatzola Northwest, a volunteer Jewish emergency medical service, were set on fire.
• Damage: Oxygen cylinders on the vehicles exploded, causing windows in an adjacent apartment block to break. The fire was brought under control by the London Fire Brigade, which deployed six fire engines and approximately 40 firefighters.
• Response: Nearby houses were evacuated as a precaution. No injuries were reported.
• Investigation: The Metropolitan Police stated that security camera footage appeared to show three hooded individuals carrying a canister toward the vehicles before the fire started. The incident is being investigated as an antisemitic hate crime.

Subsequent Attacks and Arrests

Following the ambulance attack, several other incidents were reported in late March and early April.

Targeted Sites included:

• Finchley Reform Synagogue (attempted arson)
• A former Jewish charity building in Hendon
• Kenton United Synagogue in Harrow (minor smoke damage reported)

Arrests and Charges: Police have made numerous arrests in connection with these incidents.

• In connection with the March 23 ambulance attack, three individuals—Hamza Iqbal (20), Rehan Khan (19), and a 17-year-old—were charged with arson and being reckless as to whether life would be endangered. They appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court and were remanded into custody. A fourth suspect was also arrested.
• Two teenagers, aged 17 and 19, were arrested in connection with the attack on Kenton United Synagogue.
• On April 10, counterterrorism police arrested eight people in a proactive investigation into an alleged conspiracy to commit arson, which police believe was intended to target a Jewish community venue.

The Metropolitan Police reported that 15 people have been arrested in total in connection with six attacks on Jewish targets and a Persian-language media organization over recent weeks.

Claim of Responsibility and Potential Iranian Links

A group identifying itself as Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia (HAYI), also known as the Islamic Movement of the Companions of the Right, has claimed responsibility for the attacks in London and for similar incidents in Belgium and the Netherlands.

• Police Investigation: Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans stated that police are aware of public reporting suggesting the group may have links to Iran and are exploring that question. The investigation is considering whether the tactic of using criminal proxies—individuals paid to carry out crimes—is being employed.
• Official Statements: Israel's government has described HAYI as a recently founded group with suspected links to an Iranian proxy. Metropolitan Police chief Mark Rowley said it was premature to attribute the attacks directly to the Iranian state.
• Expert Analysis: Some security analysts have suggested the group may act as a "flag of convenience" or an "astroturfed terror brand" connected to existing networks, rather than a coherent organization. Britain's MI5 domestic intelligence service has reported disrupting more than 20 "potentially lethal" Iran-backed plots in the year to October 2025.

Community Impact and Official Reactions

The attacks have occurred amid a reported increase in antisemitic incidents in the UK.

• Statistics: The Community Security Trust (CST), a charity that protects the Jewish community, recorded 3,700 antisemitic incidents in the UK in 2025.
• Community Statements: Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis stated that a "sustained campaign of violence and intimidation against the Jewish community of the UK is gathering momentum." The Board of Deputies of British Jews said the community was feeling "anxious but resilient."
• Political Response: Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the attacks, stating they were "abhorrent" and that "attacks on our Jewish community are attacks on Britain." Other political leaders, including Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch and Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, also issued statements condemning antisemitism.
• Security Measures: The Metropolitan Police have increased patrols in areas with large Jewish populations and have deployed additional security for Jewish schools, synagogues, and community centers ahead of Passover.