Who are Harakat Ashab al-Yamin? The terror group linked to Golders Green arson attack
The attack on four Jewish community ambulances in Golders Green shocked the country as counter-terrorism police investigated the incident in north-west London.
The incident is being treated as an anti-Semitic hate crime by the Metropolitan Police, but is not being treated as terrorism at this stage; However, counter-terrorism police are investigating the online claim of a suspected terrorist group claiming responsibility for the attack.
A Telegram post from Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia (HAYI), which claimed to be the group behind the arson, circulated online.
An unverified video posted on the group’s Telegram channel after 6 a.m. Monday included Google Maps street view, ambulance footage and explosion footage.
Who are they?
Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia is a new group suspected of having links to pro-Iranian networks, according to the Israeli Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Anti-Semitism. Their name means “Islamic Movement of the Right Companions”.[eous]”.
The group’s Telegram channel, which appears to have been established only on Saturday, contains many videos regarding the alleged events. These include unverified footage of explosions in Golders Green and an attack on a US bank in Amsterdam.
Earlier this month, Israel’s diaspora ministry released a report saying the attacks appeared to be part of intimidation and psychological warfare against Jewish communities in Europe.
Amichai Chikli, minister of diaspora affairs and combating anti-Semitism, said Israel Times: “The recent events in Europe are not isolated events, but part of a disturbing pattern of actions: Terrorist networks affiliated with the Iranian axis are trying to expand their areas of operation towards European cities and Jewish communities.”
The report also stated that the group operates through local cells or people referred from abroad.
It was emphasized that the name of the organization is similar to the name used by the Iraqi militia Harakat Ansar Allah al-Awfiya, which is defined as a terrorist organization by the US State Department.
The group’s logo is also very similar to symbols used by Iran-linked militant groups. Israel Times.
What did the group claim?
The terrorist organization made a statement at the beginning of an unverified video on its Telegram channel, claiming that its primary target was the Machzike Hadath Synagogue due to its connections with Israel.
The post also touched on Conservative former prime minister Rishi Sunak’s visit to the synagogue during the election campaign in June 2024 to express his “country’s unwavering support for Israel”.
What other events are these connected to?
The group had previously claimed responsibility for multiple attacks on Jewish sites in Belgium and the Netherlands between March 9 and 14, according to the Israeli ministry.
These included an explosive attack on a synagogue in Liege, Belgium, an arson attack on a synagogue in Rotterdam, and an explosive attack on a Jewish school in Amsterdam.
According to the Israeli diaspora ministry, HAYI was also suspected of being linked to an attack on a Jewish site in Greece.
The Israeli foreign ministry posted on X (formerly Twitter) on March 15 that HAYI was “a jihadist group affiliated with an Iranian proxy” responsible for attacks on a Jewish website in Greece.
“IRGC continues to sponsor and export terrorism worldwide,” the statement said.
Police response
Metropolitan Police Detective Chief Inspector Luke Williams said: “We are aware of an online claim from a group claiming responsibility for this attack.
“Determining the truth and accuracy of this allegation will be a priority for the investigative team, but it is not something we can confirm at this point.”
Police are currently searching for three hooded men who were seen on CCTV pouring accelerants into vehicles belonging to the Jewish community ambulance service Hatzola, then setting them on fire and fleeing.
