Four ambulances operated by a Jewish volunteer emergency service were deliberately set on fire overnight in north London, in what authorities are treating as a suspected antisemitic attack.
The vehicles, belonging to Hatzola, were targeted near a synagogue in the Golders Green area. Emergency services responded swiftly, with the London Fire Brigade deploying six fire engines and around 40 firefighters to contain the blaze.
Fire officials reported that gas cylinders inside the ambulances exploded during the incident, sending shockwaves through the surrounding area and shattering windows in a nearby residential building. Despite the severity of the explosions, no injuries were reported.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the incident, calling it a “deeply shocking antisemitic arson attack.” In a statement, he expressed solidarity with the Jewish community, emphasizing that “antisemitism has no place in our society.”
According to intelligence monitoring group SITE Intelligence Group, responsibility for the attack was claimed by a militant collective described as aligned with Iran. The group, known as the Islamic Movement of the People of the Right Hand, has allegedly been linked to similar arson incidents across Europe, including in Belgium, Greece, and the Netherlands.
Israel’s embassy in the United Kingdom strongly criticized what it described as a growing climate of antisemitism in London. In a statement, it warned that such violence is the result of “years of hate being tolerated,” urging authorities to take decisive action.
The attack comes amid a broader rise in antisemitic incidents globally following the escalation of conflict in the Middle East since late 2023. UK officials have previously acknowledged increased risks to Jewish communities, with heightened security measures introduced around religious and cultural sites.
Security experts also pointed to parallels with recent attacks on Jewish targets in cities such as Liège, Rotterdam, and Amsterdam. Mark Gardner of the Community Security Trust noted the similarities, calling the pattern “deeply concerning.”
London Mayor Sadiq Khan condemned the attack and confirmed that police patrols in the area would be intensified. The Metropolitan Police said officers remain at the scene and are investigating the incident as a hate crime.
Firefighters brought the blaze under control in the early hours of the morning, but the attack has left the local community shaken and prompted renewed calls for stronger action against antisemitism. Photo by Quinn Dombrowski from Berkeley, USA, Wikimedia commons.