Four ambulances belonging to a Jewish community charity have been set ablaze in north London in what police are treating as a suspected antisemitic hate crime, prompting condemnation from senior UK officials and an investigation led by counter-terrorism officers.
The incident occurred in the early hours of the morning on Highfield Road in Golders Green, where the London Fire Brigade said it was called at about 01:40 GMT. Firefighters reported that multiple cylinders inside the vehicles exploded during the blaze, causing damage to nearby properties, including shattered windows in surrounding flats.
Metropolitan Police initially described the attack as an antisemitic hate crime. While counter-terrorism police are now leading the investigation, authorities have not formally declared the incident a terrorist act “at this stage,” officers said.
CCTV footage has emerged showing three suspects approaching one of the ambulances before setting it on fire, raising further concerns about the targeted nature of the attack.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the incident, calling it a “horrific antisemitic attack,” and stressing unity in its aftermath. “It’s really important that we all stand together at a moment like this,” he said.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting also responded, confirming that immediate support would be provided to the affected charity. He said replacement ambulances would be loaned to the Hatzola service, while the government would fund permanent replacements for the destroyed vehicles.
The Hatzola ambulance service, a volunteer-led emergency response organisation established in 1979, provides free medical assistance to the community. Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis подчеркнул its broader humanitarian role, stating that its “sole mission is to protect life, Jewish and non-Jewish alike.”
Authorities say investigations are ongoing as efforts continue to identify and apprehend those responsible.
Boluwatife Enome
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