Antisemitic Arson Attack Targets Jewish Ambulance Service in London
Four ambulances operated by the Jewish volunteer ambulance service Hatzola Northwest were deliberately set on fire in an apparent antisemitic hate crime in Golders Green, north London. The Metropolitan Police have confirmed they are treating the incident as an antisemitic hate crime, with officers called to Highfield Road at approximately 1:45 AM on Monday following reports of a fire.
Community Leaders Condemn Cowardly Attack
Prime Minister Keir Starmer denounced the incident as a deeply shocking antisemitic arson attack, stating that antisemitism has no place in British society. London Mayor Sadiq Khan called it a cowardly attack on the Jewish community and confirmed that police are stepping up patrols in the area. Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis described the targeting of Hatzola as a sickening assault not only on the Jewish community but on shared societal values.
Emergency Response and Investigation Details
The London Fire Brigade dispatched six fire engines and approximately 40 firefighters to the scene, where four vehicles sustained significant damage. Several oxygen cylinders on the vehicles exploded during the fire, causing windows to break in an adjacent block of flats. Fortunately, no injuries have been reported at this time.
Police Superintendent Sarah Jackson, who leads policing in the area, confirmed that investigators believe they are looking for three suspects and are examining CCTV footage. We know this incident will cause a great deal of community concern, Jackson stated, adding that officers remain on scene carrying out urgent inquiries and will be engaging with faith leaders while providing additional patrols.
Broader Implications and Community Response
Mark Gardner from the Community Security Trust, which monitors antisemitism and provides security for UK Jewish communities, emphasized that this attack represents an attack on London and Britain as a whole, not just the Jewish community. The Community Security Trust confirmed they are assisting police with their inquiries and noted similarities to recent antisemitic arson attacks in Belgium and the Netherlands.
Dean Cohen, a Golders Green ward councillor who was at the scene, told Jewish News that the location of the attack in the car park of a synagogue is particularly chilling and will send shock waves through the community during a period of heightened fears about antisemitism in the UK.
Service Background and Operational Status
Hatzola, established in 1979, is a Jewish charity run by volunteers that provides free medical transportation and emergency response services to residents of north London, regardless of faith. Despite the attack, Shomrim, a neighborhood watch organization in Golders Green, confirmed that the northwest London facility operated by Hatzola remains fully operational.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting described the incident as a sickening attack on Jewish ambulances and called for unity against antisemitic hatred. Police continue to urge anyone with information to come forward, offering anonymous reporting options as the investigation progresses.
