Golders Green arson: Bath mayor Dr Bharat Pankhania resigns over social media posts about Hatzola ambulance attack

The mayor of Bath has resigned following social media posts about the Golders Green arson attack suggesting the incident was a hoax.

Dr Bharat Pankhania was unanimously elected by the city’s charter board of trustees in June 2025.

Last week, he shared a post on his X account about the attack on March 23, in which four ambulances belonging to the Jewish community were set on fire.

The vehicles were operated by Hatzola, a volunteer-led ambulance service.

The incident is being investigated as an anti-Semitic hate crime.

Dr Pankhania had previously apologized for sharing posts he described as “disgusting”. He was also suspended by the Liberal Democrat group on Bath and North East Somerset Council.

The Liberal Democrat council group confirmed in a statement this week that Dr Pankhania had offered his resignation as mayor and the group.

“Both these resignations have been accepted,” a spokesman said.

“Cllr Pankhania has again apologized for his interactions in X and acknowledged the pain he has caused, reiterating that he has spent his life working with all communities.

“By resigning, Commander Pankhania clearly takes personal responsibility for his actions.

“As a Group and a Party, we reject discrimination wherever it exists and reiterate our stance against antisemitism.”

On Wednesday, police said three more people were arrested in connection with the alleged arson attack.

Two British men, aged 19 and 20, and a 17-year-old British-Pakistani couple were arrested at different addresses in east London.

Two other British men, aged 45 and 47, who were arrested last week, were also released on bail until the end of April.

Dr Pankhania previously said in a statement about

“I am incredibly sorry for not living up to the standards I set for myself.

“Of course I deleted them and I want to apologize unreservedly.”