UK Police Investigate Potential Iran Links to Arson Attacks on Jewish Sites in London

UK Counter Terrorism Policing is investigating whether Iranian proxies are behind a series of arson attacks targeting Jewish sites in northwest London over recent weeks. The attacks include a bottle of accelerant thrown into Finchley Reform Synagogue on Wednesday, an overnight arson at Kenton United Synagogue causing minor damage, Jewish-owned Hatzola ambulances set alight in Golders Green on March 23, and an attempted firebombing outside a Jewish charity in Hendon on Friday night. Most attacks have been claimed by Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia, an Islamic group that emerged online in March and has claimed multiple incidents across Europe. UK chief rabbi Ephraim Mirvis warns of an escalating campaign of intimidation against British Jews, while Prime Minister Keir Starmer vowed perpetrators would face justice, calling the attacks assaults on Britain itself.

Series of Arson Attacks on Jewish Sites in London

• ▪The arson attack at Kenton United Synagogue caused minor damage
• ▪Jewish-owned Hatzola ambulances were set alight in the car park of a synagogue in Golders Green on March 23
• ▪There have been no injuries in the arson attacks on Jewish sites in North London
• ▪On Friday night, a man tried to light a bag containing three bottles of fluid outside the former premises of the Jewish Futures charity in Hendon
• ▪An arson attack occurred at Kenton United Synagogue in northwestern London overnight before Sunday
• ▪A bottle containing accelerant was thrown inside Finchley Reform Synagogue in North London on Wednesday

Investigation into Potential Iranian Proxy Connections

• ▪Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia emerged online in March
• ▪Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia claimed responsibility for an attack on the Persian-language Iran International news channel in London
• ▪Counter Terrorism Policing is leading investigations into the arson attacks on Jewish sites in North London
• ▪Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia has claimed several incidents at places of worship as well as business and financial institutions in Europe in recent months
• ▪Most of the arson attacks on Jewish sites in London have been claimed by the Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia group, also known as the Islamic Movement of the Companions of the Right
• ▪The United Kingdom's Metropolitan Police are investigating whether recent arson attacks on Jewish sites in North London could be linked to Iranian proxies

Community and Political Response to the Attacks

• ▪UK chief rabbi Ephraim Mirvis said the Kenton fire was the third cowardly attack on Jewish sites in the British capital in less than a week
• ▪UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said those responsible for the recent attacks at Jewish sites would be brought to justice
• ▪UK chief rabbi Ephraim Mirvis stated that a sustained campaign of violence and intimidation against the Jewish community of the UK is gathering momentum
• ▪UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said attacks on the Jewish community are attacks on Britain

Perspective of UK chief rabbi Ephraim Mirvis

• ▪UK chief rabbi Ephraim Mirvis characterized the arson attacks on Jewish sites in London as cowardly
• ▪UK chief rabbi Ephraim Mirvis believes a sustained campaign of violence and intimidation against British Jews is escalating

Perspective of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer

• ▪UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer pledged that perpetrators of arson attacks on Jewish sites in London would face justice