Two men have been arrested in connection with the Golders Green arson attack on Jewish community ambulances, marking a significant development in the ongoing investigation. The suspects, aged 47 and 45, were arrested on Wednesday morning at addresses in north west London and central London respectively.
Arrests Made in Connection with Appalling Attack
The men were taken into custody on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life and are currently being held at a London police station. Officers are conducting searches at both addresses as part of the investigation into the attack that occurred at approximately 1:35am on Monday.
Attack on Hatzola Ambulances
The arson targeted four ambulances operated by Hatzola, a volunteer-led Jewish emergency service. CCTV footage reviewed by Metropolitan Police investigators shows three hooded individuals pouring accelerant on the parked vehicles before setting them ablaze.
Commander Helen Flanagan, Head of Counter Terrorism Policing London, which is leading the investigation, stated: "We have been working around the clock since this appalling attack took place and this has led to these arrests being made this morning."
Investigation Remains Active
While acknowledging the arrests represent an important breakthrough, Commander Flanagan noted that CCTV evidence suggests at least three people were involved in the attack. "We fully recognise the local community will still be concerned and our investigation very much remains active," she said.
The Commander expressed gratitude to the public and particularly the local Jewish community for their continued support, reiterating appeals for anyone with information to come forward.
Community Response and Security Measures
The Community Security Trust, a charity providing security to the Jewish community, welcomed the arrests in a statement: "We are grateful to the officers who have worked tirelessly to find those accountable."
The organization noted that while this development represents progress, the community understandably remains concerned. Police security measures and CST's own security operations will therefore remain at their current high level, with continued strong cooperation between CST and police to protect the community.
Claim of Responsibility
Islamist group Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia (HAYI) has claimed responsibility for the attack online. The newly formed group, believed to be aligned with Iran, appears to have posted a video on Telegram showing a map of the attack location and the ambulances on fire.
Metropolitan Police detectives are aware of the claim of responsibility and are working to determine its authenticity. The attack is currently being treated as an antisemitic hate crime rather than a terror incident.
Ongoing Investigation
The investigation continues as authorities work to identify and apprehend all individuals potentially involved in the attack. The arrests represent the first significant development in what remains an active and ongoing police operation.
