Counter-terror police are leading probes into a series of attacks on Jewish communities across London.
Most recently, police are investigating a suspected arson attack on a former synagogue in Whitechapel. The site has cultural significance for the Jewish community and has been disused since 2020, with a Muslim group looking to purchase the property.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer hosted a summit at Downing Street on Tuesday in response to the recent surge in antisemitism across the UK.
He has warned that Iranian efforts to stoke violence and hatred “will not be tolerated” following speculation that Tehran could be behind antisemitic attacks.
The attempted arson is just one of many attacks across London, which include an arson attack on community ambulances, petrol bombing incidents, and a knife attack on two Jewish men in Golders Green.
The spate of violence has seen the president of The United Synagogue declare “an epidemic of anti-Jewish hate” across the UK.
Here’s a rundown of the recent incidents:
March 23: Attack on Hatzola ambulances
Four volunteer-led ambulances run by the Jewish community were set on fire in Golders Green in the early hours of 23 March.
The vehicles, operated by charity Hatzola, each worth £250,000 were destroyed.
Investigators have probed claims that Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia was behind the attack.
A video was posted on Telegram featuring a map of the location where the ambulances were kept and footage of them on fire.
Four people have been charged in connection with the attack.
April 15: Petrol bombs thrown at synagogue
Two attempted arsonists wearing dark clothes and balaclavas threw two bottles, suspected to contain petrol, and a brick at the Finchley Reform Synagogue shortly after midnight on April 15.
The Metropolitan Police is treating the attack as an antisemitic hate crime.
Neither bottle ignited and no damage was reported. There were no injuries.
A man, 46, and woman, 47, were arrested on suspicion of arson endangering life. They were released on bail.
April 15: Attack on Persian media company
Three people, including a 16-year-old boy, have appeared in court charged in connection with an attempted firebombing on a Persian media company in north-west London.
Oisin McGuinness, 21, Nathan Dunn, 19, and a 16-year-old boy appeared side by side in the dock at London's Westminster Magistrates' Court on Friday charged with arson with intent to endanger life.
The Metropolitan Police said officers on patrol were told at about 8.30pm on April 15 that an "ignited container" had been thrown towards the site in Wembley, landing in a car park where the fire immediately went out.
The offices of Volant Media, the parent company of Persian news channel Iran International, known for its critical coverage of Iran’s government, were targeted.
April 18: Attack on former charity premises
Counter-terror police have launched an investigation after an arson attack on a building formerly used by a Jewish charity in Hendon.
Police and the London Fire Brigade were called at 10:31pm on April 17 after a man set three bottles “containing fluid” alight outside a row of shops.
The suspect set fire to the items in a plastic bag after but fled the scene after they failed to fully ignite.
Minor damage was caused to the building that was previously used by educational charity Jewish Futures and no injuries were reported.
April 19: ‘Firebomb’ attack on synagogue in Kenton
A “bottle with some sort of accelerant” was “thrown through the window” of Kenton United Synagogue, Harrow, the Metropolitan Police said.
Smoke was seen inside a room at the synagogue after officers spotted damage to the window at around midnight.
Video that seems to be from Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia shows a person in dark clothing lighting an item and throwing it at the synagogue before running away.
Two teenagers, a 17-year-old boy and a 19-year-old man, have since been arrested in connection with the incident.
The 17-year-old pleaded guilty to arson not endangering life.
April 28: Suspected arson attack at memorial wall
On April 28, police announced an investigation into a suspected arson attack at a memorial wall in Golders Green. The wall, which is near a Jewish centre is a memorial to those killed by the Iranian regime.
The attack is thought to have occurred on Limes Avenue at 12.15am and it was reported to police just before 7:30pm that day. No damage was done to the wall.
Detective Chief Superintendent Luke Williams, who leads policing in north-west London, said: “We are working closely with community organisations and leaders, and want to reassure them that our protective security operation continues. Our local officers are working closely with Counter Terror Policing to support their investigation.”
April 29: Stabbings in Golders Green
Two Jewish men were stabbed in the north London Golders Green neighbourhood. Local Jewish community police Shomrim were the first to the scene at the time of the incident.
The suspect, Essa Suleiman, is a Somali-born British national who has now been charged on three counts of attempted murder. He is reported to have a history of mental illness and violence issues.
The Jewish victims, Shloime Rand, 34, and Moshe Shine, 76, were treated for serious stab wounds at hospital and have since been discharged.
The attack provoked “anger” and “disgust” among the Jewish community, who heckled Sir Keir Starmer during his visit to meet local emergency services.
The leader of the Green Party, Zack Polanski, also came under fire when he shared a post accusing officers of “repeatedly and violently kicking a mentally ill man in the head when he was already incapacitated by Taser.”
He has since apologised for “sharing a tweet in haste.”
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said officers "confronted a man they believed to be a terrorist, who refused to show his hands, who was violent and continued to pose a clear threat".
He added that officers feared the suspect was carrying an explosive device and Tasered him while he continued to try to attack and stab them.
Sir Mark said: "We're also working with our partners in the security services to ensure we have a full intelligence picture and one of the lines of inquiry is whether this attack was deliberately targeting the Jewish community in London."
Since the stabbing attack, the UK terrorism threat level has been raised to “severe” meaning another terror attack is “highly likely.”
The Home Office clarified that the terror level had not been raised solely due to the Golders Green attack, with a broader increase in Islamist and right-wing terrorism also responsible.
May 5: Attempted arson on former synagogue in Whitechapel
An investigation has been launched into a suspected arson attack at a former synagogue in Whitechapel, east London.
Fire crews were called out to the building on Nelson Street in the early hours of Tuesday morning, according to Jewish community police Shomrim.
The Met said officers were called to the site just before 5:15am by the London Fire Brigade.
It is understood that the building has suffered minor damage to its gates and the lock at the front of the property.
The force added that CCTV showed the fire had been deliberately started.
Detective Chief Superintendent Brittany Clarke said: “We are taking this incident extremely seriously and we will be working closely with colleagues from Counter Terrorism Policing to support the investigation.
“The building targeted has not been operational as a synagogue for some years but that will be of little comfort to the Jewish community in Tower Hamlets, Hackney and beyond, who are first in my thoughts this morning.
“Local residents can expect to see an increased police presence in the area while inquiries into this incident continue.”
