The Metropolitan Police counterterrorism unit is leading the investigation after four ambulances belonging to the Jewish volunteer emergency service Hatzola were set on fire in Golders Green, London. The arson, which occurred around 1:45 a.m. on March 23, is being treated as an antisemitic hate crime, according to Detective Chief Superintendent Luke Williams.
Suspected Iran-Linked Group Claims Responsibility
A video circulating online shows Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiyya, a group reportedly linked to Iran, claiming responsibility for the attack. This group has previously targeted Jewish sites in Belgium and the Netherlands. Police are investigating the authenticity of the claim but have not confirmed it. Authorities are also looking for three suspects captured on CCTV pouring an accelerant on the ambulances before igniting them. No injuries were reported, though nearby homes were evacuated as a precaution.
Concerns Over UK Policy on Iran-Linked Terrorism
Alan Mendoza, executive director of the Henry Jackson Society, said the attack highlights failures in UK policy regarding Iranian activities on British soil. He criticized successive governments for not banning the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) or restricting regime-linked entities, which he warned has created conditions favorable to terrorism.
Joe Truzman, senior research analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, noted that the group claiming responsibility has conducted multiple attacks against Jewish institutions across Europe since the Iran conflict began, emphasizing the need to examine the group’s potential involvement thoroughly.
Broader Impact on Jewish Communities
The arson is part of a wider rise in antisemitic attacks across Europe, particularly since the Iran-related conflict escalated. Scott Saunders, CEO of the International March of the Living, described the attack as a dangerous escalation, emphasizing that emergency vehicles operated by Jewish first responders were deliberately targeted near a place of worship.
Police continue their investigation as the UK responds to increasing threats against Jewish communities amid growing concerns over Islamist-inspired antisemitic violence.
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