NewsBeat

All the recent arson attacks in London as counter-terror police probe spate of incidents

Published

on

Counter-terror police are leading probes into recent multiple arson and attempted arson attacks in north-west London .

The deputy commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Matt Jukes said premises “linked to Britain’s Jewish community and to those who oppose the Iranian regime have been targeted”.

Counter-terror police are looking into whether the series of arson attacks have been carried out by Iranian proxies, Vicki Evans, Deputy Assistant Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, said on Sunday.

Sir Keir Starmer said he was “appalled” by the spate of “antisemitic” attacks.

Advertisement

“This is abhorrent and it will not be tolerated. Attacks on our Jewish community are attacks on Britain”, the Prime Minister said following the latest attack in which the Kenton United Synagogue, Harrow, was targeted.

The “firebombing” was one of a string of attacks in recent weeks that has seen the president of The United Synagogue declare “an epidemic of anti-Jewish hate”.

Here are the incidents that have taken place recently:

Attack on Hatzola ambulances

Advertisement

The vehicles, operated by charity Hatzola, each worth £250,000 were destroyed.

Four people have been charged in connection with the alleged attack.

Jamie Lashmar/PA Wire

Petrol bombs thrown at synagogue

Neither bottle ignited and no damage was reported. There were no injuries.

Advertisement

A man, 46, and woman, 47, were arrested on suspicion of arson endangering life. They were released on bail.

LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 15: Forensic police officers investigate a suspected firebomb outside Finchley Reform Synagogue on April 15, 2026 in London, England. Police are treating the attempted arson attack on the Finchley Reform Synagogue as an antisemitic hate crime, after two suspects threw a brick and two bottles containing what is believed to have been petrol at the building in the early hours of Wednesday. No damage or injuries were reported. (Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images)

Getty

Attack on former charity premises

Police and the London Fire Brigade were called at 10:31pm on April 17 after a man set three bottles “containing fluid” alight outside a row of shops.

Advertisement

The suspect set fire to the items in a plastic bag after but fled the scene after they failed to fully ignite.

Minor damage was caused to the building that was previously used by educational charity Jewish Futures and no injuries were reported.

HENDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 18: Police forensic officers investigate the scene of an attempted arson attack on April 18, 2026 in the Hendon area of London, England. The Metropolitan Police said its officers were called to the location around 10:30pm last night after a man approached a row of shops carrying a bag with three bottles of fluid and tried to set them alight, before fleeing the scene. (Photo by Alishia Abodunde/Getty Images)

Getty

‘Firebomb’ attack on synagogue in Kenton

Advertisement

It caused smoke damage, but there were no injuries and no significant structural damage.

In response to the attack the Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “This is now becoming a terrifying spate of daily arson attacks on the Jewish community”.

A police officer outside the Kenton United Synagogue in Harrow, north-west London, where an attempted arson attack overnight has caused minor smoke damage to an internal room but no injuries or significant structural damage. Picture date: Sunday April 19, 2026.

PA

Attack on Persian media company

Advertisement

Three people, including a 16-year-old boy, have appeared in court charged in connection with an attempted firebombing on a Persian media company in north-west London.

Oisin McGuinness, 21, Nathan Dunn, 19, and a 16-year-old boy appeared side by side in the dock at London’s Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Friday charged with arson with intent to endanger life.

The Metropolitan Police said officers on patrol were told at about 8.30pm on April 15 that an “ignited container” had been thrown towards the site in Wembley, landing in a car park where the fire immediately went out.

The offices of Volant Media, the parent company of Persian news channel Iran International, known for its critical coverage of Iran’s government., were targeted.

Advertisement

Source link

You must be logged in to post a comment Login

Leave a Reply

Cancel reply

Trending

Exit mobile version