Two teenagers arrested over arson attack at synagogue in Harrow

Two teenagers have been arrested over an arson attack at the Kenton United Synagogue in Harrow, northwest London.

A “bottle with some sort of accelerant had been thrown through the window” at midnight on Sunday and smoke was seen inside a room, a Metropolitan Police spokesperson previously said.

Speaking to the BBC Radio 4’s Today programme on Monday morning, Matt Jukes, deputy commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, said a 17-year-old boy and 19-year-old man had been arrested overnight.

“I’m really pleased to say that overnight, we have news of two arrests in relation to that incident,” he said.

“We’ve made over the last weeks, 15 arrests in relation to a series of six incidents that have targeted Jewish premises, the Jewish-led ambulance service and a Persian media organisation.”

Minor smoke damage to an internal room was caused during the synagogue attack, but no injuries or significant structural damage were reported, a Jewish charity, the Community Security Trust (CST), said.

Yehuda Black, the synagogue’s rabbi, said the item was thrown into the medical room.

Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer earlier said in a statement on X, formerly Twitter: “I am appalled by recent attempted antisemitic arson attacks in North London.

“This is abhorrent and it will not be tolerated. Attacks on our Jewish community are attacks on Britain.

“We are increasing visible policing and those responsible will be found and brought to justice. We will not rest in the pursuit of perpetrators.”

Police are investigating Iranian-backed proxies linked to recent attacks on the Jewish community, Mr Jukes told Today.

“I think that’s a very serious line of inquiry in relation to these events, we’ve seen a pattern… people taking cash as it looks like quick and easy money,” he said.

“Teams I led have put in prison individuals like Dylan Earl, who is serving a 17-year prison sentence for acting on behalf of the Wagner group. In that case, Russian connected. But this is part of the modern hybrid war fought by proxies.”

Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis earlier called the synagogue incident “a cowardly arson attack” and said “a sustained campaign of violence and intimidation against the Jewish community of the UK is gathering momentum”.

His statement shared on X said: “This sustained attack on our community’s ability to worship and live in safety is an attack on the values that bind us all together.”