LONDON – Arson Arrests Linked to Ambulance Attacks
British police have detained two men in connection with the arson that damaged four ambulances belonging to a Jewish charity, with authorities treating the incident as a potential anti-Semitic hate crime.
The Metropolitan Police arrested the men, aged 45 and 47, in London on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life. They’re currently being questioned at a police station in the city.
Officers are also conducting searches at two residences in north London, several kilometers from where the ambulances were set on fire in the Golders Green area.
Commander Helen Flanagan, who leads London’s counter-terrorism police, noted that the arrests are a “significant development” in the case, although CCTV footage indicates that three individuals may have been involved.
While police have yet to label the incident a terrorist act, they are looking into claims from a group possibly connected to Iran that has expressed responsibility.
The fire, which occurred early Monday, destroyed the ambulances of Hatzolah Northwest, a volunteer organization, and led to an oxygen tank explosion that damaged nearby apartment buildings. This event has left the local Jewish community feeling increasingly vulnerable, particularly in light of ongoing tensions related to conflicts in the Middle East and a rise in anti-Semitic sentiments.
In preparation for the upcoming Passover celebrations, the Metropolitan Police are enhancing security measures at Jewish schools, synagogues, and community centers, which includes increased patrols with firearms.
Concerns have been raised in Britain regarding Iran’s supposed use of criminal agents to execute attacks targeting opposition media and Jewish communities across Europe. The domestic intelligence service, MI5, reported that over 20 potential Iranian-backed plots had been thwarted in the year leading up to October last year.
Police are also looking into a social media statement from a group called Harakat Ahab al-Yamin al-Islam, which translates to Right-wing Brotherhood Islamic Movement, claiming responsibility for the attack.
Additionally, the Israeli government has pointed to recent attacks on synagogues in Belgium and the Netherlands, attributing them to this nascent group, which is suspected to have ties to pro-Iranian networks.
Metropolitan Police Chief Mark Rowley stated that while they are investigating these claims, it’s still too early to definitively conclude that the Iranian state is behind the attacks.
