Four Ambulances from UK Jewish Community Set Ablaze

Margaret Davis, Georgia Bates, Alexandra Snow and David Hughes, Press Association

PA Media/dpa

(TNS)

London — British counter-terrorism police are leading the investigation into an arson attack on four Jewish community ambulances.

The incident in Golders Green, north-west London, is being treated as an anti-Semitic hate crime by the Metropolitan Police but not as terrorism at this stage, the force said.

Speaking near the scene on Monday, Detective Chief Superintendent Luke Williams, who leads policing for the area, said investigators are aware of a group apparently claiming responsibility for the attack online, but have not yet verified whether this is true.

A video has allegedly been posted on Telegram by an Islamist group called Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia, showing a map of the location where the ambulances were kept and footage of them on fire.

Williams said: "While this has not been declared a terrorist incident at this stage, the investigation is now being led by Counter Terrorism Policing with all the specialist expertise they bring, and all lines of inquiry remain open.

"We are aware of an online claim from a group taking responsibility for this attack. Establishing the authenticity and accuracy of this claim will be a priority for the investigation team, but it is not something we can confirm at this point."

CCTV shows three people in hoods pouring accelerant on the vehicles, which belong to the Jewish community ambulance service, Hatzola, before setting them on fire and running away.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has called for communities to "all stand together" in the face of the "horrific anti-Semitic attack", while Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis said the targeting of the volunteer service was "particularly sickening".

Starmer said: "Anti-Semitism has no place in our society and it's really important that we all stand together at a moment like this."

Police will give extra support for key Jewish locations around Golders Green, where many Jewish people live, both for the coming days and leading up to Passover in early April, Williams said.

The latest official figures on hate crime recorded by police in England and Wales showed Jewish people had the highest rate of religious hate crimes targeted towards them of any faith group.

Two worshippers were killed in a deadly attack on a synagogue in Manchester in October 2025, while in a separate investigation earlier this month two men were charged with allegedly spying on Jewish people and locations for Iran.

The government has pledged to fund replacements for the ambulances as well as immediate health support.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting, who visited the scene on Monday, said: "The aim of these attackers is clear.

"They want Jewish people in this country to live smaller lives, to live less Jewish lives, to be less visible as Jewish people, to fear going about Jewish life."

He added: "I know that the Jewish community will not be cowed by this despicable act of evil, but it is the responsibility of the rest of us not to be bystanders.

"Every decent person in this country needs to stand up and speak up against this vile anti-Semitic hatred."

Gas canisters kept in the ambulances exploded after they were set alight at around 1:45 am on Monday, but no injuries have been reported.

Nearby homes were evacuated as a precaution and road closures in the area remain in place.

The Chief Rabbi said in a statement on X: "The deliberate arson attacks against Hatzola ambulances in London are a particularly sickening assault – not only on the Jewish community, but on the values we share as a society.

"Our Hatzola volunteer ambulance corps is an extraordinary service, whose sole mission is to protect life, Jewish and non-Jewish alike.

"The targeting of Hatzola by people so committed to terror, hatred and the desecration of life is a most painful illustration of the ongoing battle between those who sanctify life and those who seek to destroy it.

"At a time when Jewish communities around the world are facing a growing pattern of these violent attacks, we will meet this moment with shared resolve and stand together against hatred and intimidation."

Hatzola, which was established in 1979 and is run by volunteers, provides free medical transportation and emergency response to those living in North London.

The Archbishop of Canterbury condemned the "appalling anti-Semitic attack", while the British Medical Association criticised "deliberate attacks on healthcare services" as "reprehensible".

Jewish leaders met the Prime Minister in Downing Street on Monday afternoon, with Michael Wegier, chief executive of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, saying Jews in the UK feel less safe now than a few years ago.

Keith Black, chairman of the Jewish Leadership Council, told the Press Association: "Jews don’t feel as safe as they should."

He added: "We've seen identity politics turn violent and, for one reason or another, Jews are caught in the crossfire."

©2026 dpa GmbH. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.