Four ambulances set on fire in London in suspected antisemitic hate crime

Four ambulances belonging to the Jewish community in North London were set on fire in what was deemed an “anti-Semitic hate crime”.

Metropolitan Police officers were called to Highfield Road, Golders Green, at around 1.45am on Monday after receiving reports of a fire.

The vehicles form part of the fleet of Hatzola Northwest, a volunteer-run Jewish emergency service.

London Fire Brigade (LFB) said no injuries were reported and it was under control at 03.06am.

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While some of the explosions heard in the region are believed to be related to the gas canisters on the ship, nearby houses were evacuated and roads were closed as a precaution.

No one with information who was asked to come forward has been arrested.

Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis said in a statement about X: “The deliberate arson attacks on Hatzola ambulances in London are a particularly sickening attack not only on the Jewish community but on the values ​​we share as a society.

“Our Hatzola volunteer ambulance service is an extraordinary service whose sole mission is to protect the lives of Jews and non-Jews alike.

“The targeting of Hatzola by people so devoted to terror, hatred and the sanctity of life is the most painful example of the ongoing war between those who sanctify life and those who seek to destroy it.

“At a time when Jewish communities around the world face an increasing pattern of these violent attacks, we will meet this moment with shared determination and stand together against hatred and intimidation.”

Health Minister Wes Streeting said in a post on X: “This is a sickening attack on Jewish ambulances. Thank goodness there appear to be no injuries.”

“Anyone with information should contact the police. We must stand together against anti-Semitic hatred.”

Shomrim, a nonprofit organization that runs a neighborhood watch in the Golders Green neighborhood, said it was “aware of strong explosions” early Monday morning.

“Emergency services attended the scene following an incident involving #Hatzola ambulances being deliberately set on fire,” the group said in a post on X.

“The explosions were not bombs or explosives, but were caused by oxygen tanks. Although some buildings were evacuated, there was no loss of life.

Shomrim said the Northwest London facility, run by Jewish charity Hatzola, remained fully operational.

Founded in 1979 and run by volunteers, Hatzola provides free medical transport and emergency response services to residents of North London.

The fire department said about 40 firefighters were called to the fires and that several cylinders in the vehicles exploded, causing windows to shatter in nearby flats.

Golders Green ward councilor Dean Cohen, who was at the scene, told Jewish News that the incident “happened in the car park of a synagogue is particularly chilling and will send shockwaves through our community at a time when fears about antisemitism are already growing in the UK”.

He said: “It’s time for the authorities to wake up and do more to combat this insurgency of hate.”

The Community Security Trust (CST), a charity that monitors antisemitism in the UK, confirmed in a statement to X that it was assisting police with their investigations.

The following statements were made in the statement: “We are aware that several Hatzola ambulances were deliberately set on fire in London.

“This has an obvious comparison with similar anti-Semitic arson attacks that occurred recently in Belgium and the Netherlands.

“No injuries have been reported at this time and we are assisting @MPSBarnet with their investigation.”

Resident and councilor Shimon Ryde told the BBC: “This is very shocking, it’s not unexpected.

“The Jewish community is very aware of the danger we are in.”

Inspector Sarah Jackson, who leads policing in the local area, said: “We know this incident will cause great concern in the community and officers will remain at the scene to carry out urgent investigations.

“We are in the process of reviewing CCTV and are aware of online footage. We believe we are searching for three suspects at this early stage.”

“No arrests have yet been made and we would appeal to anyone with information to contact us as soon as possible – you can also do so anonymously if you wish.

“We will be in contact with faith leaders and carrying out additional patrols in the local area as we continue our investigation to provide security and maintain a highly visible presence.”

This is breaking news, more to come…