Man arrested at court while attending hearing of Jewish ambulance arson suspects | UK news
A fourth man has been arrested in connection with an arson attack on Jewish volunteer ambulances in north-west London, the Metropolitan police said.
Police said the 19-year-old man was arrested at Westminster magistrates’ court on Saturday morning, where three other men were also charged in connection with the arson attack.
“While attending the hearing of three other suspects, officers became aware that the man was involved in an arson attack. He was arrested and taken into custody for arson with intent to endanger life,” the Met said.
Hamza Iqbal, 20, a British citizen, and Rehan Khan, 19, both from Leyton, and a 17-year-old boy, a dual British and Pakistani national, from Walthamstow, were charged with arson with intent to damage property and being reckless as to whether life would be endangered. They did not enter a plea at a hearing at Westminster magistrates’ court on Saturday and were remanded in custody.
The 19-year-old man was seen being led from the building and the court was told four suspects were involved in the alleged attack.
Four ambulances belonging to Hatzola, the volunteer-led ambulance service operating in the Golders Green area, were set on fire in the early hours of March 23, causing the gas cylinders stored in the vehicles to explode.
The fourth person was arrested and detained by the court on suspicion of “arson with the intention of endangering life”.
The court was told there was strong evidence that the attack was a “deliberate and targeted attack on the Jewish community”.
The prosecutor’s office said there was now an investigation into whether an Iran-backed group that claimed responsibility was actually involved.
The three suspects, wearing gray tracksuits, spoke in court Saturday morning only to confirm their names and addresses. Members of their families were also present.
Counter-terrorism police are leading the investigation, but the incident “has not been declared terrorism”, according to the Met police.
Commander Helen Flanagan, head of London’s counter-terrorism unit, which is leading the investigation, previously said: “Since this horrific attack last week, we have been working continuously to investigate and identify those responsible. The investigation has now reached the stage where three people have been charged and they will now face trial.”
“I want to reiterate that the support we have received from the local community since this attack took place has been incredible and we will continue to work closely with our local police colleagues to do everything we can to keep the public safe.”
Since the attack, police patrols have been established in areas with a large Jewish population. Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the incident at the time as a “deeply shocking anti-Semitic arson attack”.
