Counter-terror police are leading probes into recent multiple arson and attempted arson attacks in north-west London .
The deputy commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Matt Jukes said premises “linked to Britain’s Jewish community and to those who oppose the Iranian regime have been targeted”.
Counter-terror officers are looking into whether the series of arson attacks have been carried out by Iranian proxies, Vicki Evans, Deputy Assistant Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, said on Sunday.
Sir Keir Starmer said he was “appalled” by the spate of “antisemitic” attacks.
“This is abhorrent and it will not be tolerated.
Attacks on our Jewish community are attacks on Britain”, the Prime Minister said following the latest attack in which the Kenton United Synagogue, Harrow, was targeted.
The “firebombing” was one of a string of attacks in recent weeks that has seen the president of The United Synagogue declare “an epidemic of anti-Jewish hate”.
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Here’s a rundown of the recent incidents:
March 23: Attack on Hatzola ambulances
Four volunteer-led ambulances run by the Jewish community were set on fire in Golders Green in the early hours of 23 March.
The vehicles, operated by charity Hatzola, each worth £250,000 were destroyed.
investigators have probed claims that Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia was behind the attack.
A video was posted on Telegram featuring a map of the location where the ambulances were kept and footage of them on fire.
Four people have been charged in connection with the attack.
April 15: Petrol bombs thrown at synagogue
Two attempted arsonists wearing dark clothes and balaclavas threw two bottles, suspected to contain petrol, and a brick at the Finchley Reform Synagogue shortly after midnight on April 15.
The Metropolitan Police is treating the attack as an antisemitic hate crime.
Neither bottle ignited and no damage was reported.
There were no injuries.
A man, 46, and woman, 47, were arrested on suspicion of arson endangering life.
They were released on bail.
April 15: Attack on Persian media company
Three people, including a 16-year-old boy, have appeared in court charged in connection with an attempted firebombing on a Persian media company in north-west London.
Oisin McGuinness, 21, Nathan Dunn, 19, and a 16-year-old boy appeared side by side in the dock at London's Westminster Magistrates' Court on Friday charged with arson with intent to endanger life.
The Metropolitan Police said officers on patrol were told at about 8.30pm on April 15 that an "ignited container" had been thrown towards the site in Wembley, landing in a car park where the fire immediately went out.
The offices of Volant Media, the parent company of Persian news channel Iran International, known for its critical coverage of Iran’s government, were targeted.
April 18: Attack on former charity premises
Counter-terror police have launched an investigation after a n arson attack on a building formerly used by a Jewish charity in Hendon.
Police and the London Fire Brigade were called at 10:31pm on April 17 after a man set three bottles “containing fluid” alight outside a row of shops.
The suspect set fire to the items in a plastic bag after but fled the scene after they failed to fully ignite.
Minor damage was caused to the building that was previously used by educational charity Jewish Futures and no injuries were reported.
April 19: ‘Firebomb’ attack on synagogue in Kenton
A “bottle with some sort of accelerant” was “thrown through the window” of Kenton United Synagogue, Harrow, the Metropolitan Police said.
Smoke was seen inside a room at the synagogue after officers spotted damage to the window at around midnight.
Video that seems to be from Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia shows a person in dark clothing lighting an item and throwing it at the synagogue before running away.
Two teenagers, a 17-year-old boy and a 19-year-old man, have since been arrested in connection with the incident.
A spokesperson for the Met Police said on Monday morning that the pair remain in custody.
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Source: This article was originally published by Evening Standard
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