On Wednesday, London police are actively searching for two masked individuals involved in an attempted arson attack on a synagogue, which is being classified as an “anti-Semitic hate crime.”
According to the Metropolitan Police, the suspects, dressed in “black clothing and balaclavas,” approached a synagogue in Finchley shortly after midnight, throwing two bottles—suspected to contain petrol—and a brick at the building.
Detective Superintendent Luke Williams expressed concern about the community’s reaction, particularly in light of a recent arson incident in Golders Green last month. He noted, “We’re aware that this incident will cause significant concern. We are working closely with local synagogues and community leaders.”
He added, “We take incidents like this very seriously and assure the community that we are making every effort to locate the suspects.”
Fortunately, neither bottle ignited, and there were no reported injuries or damages.
Earlier this month, three young individuals, aged 17, 19, and 20, were charged by British prosecutors in relation to another arson incident involving a Jewish community ambulance in north London that occurred on March 23. The fire was set in the parking lot of a synagogue around 1:45 a.m.
As of Wednesday afternoon, the police had not made any arrests regarding the latest incident. Williams encouraged anyone with relevant surveillance or dashcam footage, or any information, to reach out to authorities.
Residents may notice an increased police presence in the area in the coming days as additional officers are deployed. People are encouraged to approach the police with any concerns they may have.
