Two Men
Arrested in Attack on Jewish Charity Ambulances in London
In a
major development in the investigation into an antisemitic arson attack on a
Jewish charity's ambulances, London's Metropolitan Police arrested two men on
Wednesday, March 25, 2026.
Details
of the Arrests
Suspects:
The two men, aged 45 and 47, are both British nationals.
Location:
One man was arrested at an address in northwest London (near Kilburn) and the
other in central London (near Kings Cross).
Charges:
They were detained on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life, a charge
that carries a potential maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
Current
Status: Both men remain in custody at a London police station while officers
conduct searches at the two addresses.
The
Incident
The
arrests are linked to the early-morning attack on Monday, March 23, 2026, in
Golders Green:
Target:
Four ambulances belonging to Hatzola Northwest, a volunteer-led Jewish
emergency medical service, were set on fire at approximately 1:35 a.m..
Impact:
Three ambulances were completely destroyed and a fourth was damaged. The fire
caused oxygen cylinders on board to explode, shattering windows of a nearby
synagogue and apartment block, which led to the evacuation of residents.
Perpetrators:
CCTV footage of the incident showed three hooded individuals dousing the
vehicles in accelerant before fleeing. Police are still searching for a third
suspect.
Investigation
& Context
Hate
Crime: The Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command is leading the
investigation, treating the attack as an antisemitic hate crime.
Potential
Foreign Links: Authorities are investigating a claim of responsibility from an
Islamist group called Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia (HAYI), which may have
links to Iran.
Increased
Security: In response, police have implemented an enhanced security plan across
London, including highly visible armed patrols near Jewish community centers,
schools, and synagogues ahead of the Passover holiday.
The
government has provided four replacement ambulances on loan to ensure Hatzola’s
services remain operational, and a public crowdfunding campaign has raised over
£1.7 million to support the charity.
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