Two men arrested over Golders Green ambulance attack released on bail
Two men arrested in connection with the Golders Green ambulance attack have been released on bail.
The men, 47-year-old and 45-year-old British nationals, were detained on Wednesday on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life.
The Metropolitan Police said they were released on bail until April while the investigation continues.
Four ambulances belonging to volunteer-led ambulance service Hatzola, which operates in the Golders Green area, were set on fire in an arson attack at around 1.35am on Monday.
Police said the searches were carried out at addresses where the suspects were arrested in London’s Kilburn and Kings Cross areas.
The Met added that further searches were carried out at two other addresses in north-west London.
Commander Helen Flanagan, Head of London Counter Terrorism Police, who is leading the investigation, said: “Although the two men have been released from police custody, strict bail conditions remain in place as we continue to investigate their suspected involvement.
“I can reassure the public that we will be monitoring these closely as we conduct further investigations.
“We continue to work to identify everyone involved in this horrific attack and the investigation team is working around the clock to do this.
“I would like to thank the public, and in particular the local Jewish community in the area, for their continued support and reiterate our appeal for anyone with information that could assist the investigation to contact us.”
The Metropolitan Police chief said earlier this week that police were investigating whether an Islamist group with possible links to the Iranian state was behind the arson attack.
The gas cylinders in the ambulances exploded after being set on fire, and the surrounding houses were evacuated as a precaution.
Neighborhood residents said that they woke up in the early hours of the morning due to the noise and that the windows, including the windows of the nearby synagogue, were blown away by the violence of the explosion.
Detective Chief Inspector Luke Williams, who leads the force in north-west London, said: “We know community concerns remain high and I would like to reassure the community that enhanced, tailored policing planning and activity, particularly focusing on vulnerable areas across London, will continue in the coming days and weeks.”
“This includes the deployment of local as well as specialist officers and capabilities to help protect specific locations and will also include highly visible armed police patrols to serve as a deterrent to anyone seeking to cause harm to our communities.
“I must emphasize that these are precautionary measures and do not respond to a specific threat, and we continue to work with our colleagues in the Counter Terrorism police to support their investigations. We will also continue to work closely with local communities and our partners to listen to and respond to their concerns.”
Anyone with information should contact police on 101 quoting reference 415 of 23 March.
