In recent news from London, the anti-terrorism police in the UK revealed on Sunday (April 19) a series of arson attacks targeting Jewish sites. They are currently investigating whether these incidents are related to Iran. The latest attack occurred on Saturday night (April 18) at the Kenton United Synagogue in the Harrow area of London, making it the third similar incident within a week. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated that attacks on the Jewish community would not be tolerated.
Police issued a warning that those involved would face severe prosecution under national security laws.
Rabbi Yehuda Black of Kenton United Synagogue reported that a firebomb was thrown into the medical room of the synagogue, causing the entire building to be engulfed in smoke.
The pro-Iranian organization HAYI claimed responsibility for the attack and released a video on social media allegedly showing the attack in progress. The organization also claimed responsibility for a series of recent attacks on American, Israeli, and Jewish targets in Europe.
Prime Minister Starmer, in a statement on the X social media platform, expressed shock at the recent spate of anti-Semitic arson attacks in North London.
“This is abhorrent and will not be tolerated. An attack on our Jewish community is an attack on the UK,” he said. “We are ramping up police deployment to track down the perpetrators and bring them to justice.”
Vicki Evans, Senior National Coordinator of the UK Counter-Terrorism Police, stated during a press conference at Kenton United Synagogue, “As the situation in the Middle East continues to evolve, the UK Counter-Terrorism Police and our partners remain vigilant against the threat of hostile activities by Iran on British soil.”
“We have noted some public reports suggesting links between this organization (HAYI) and Iran. We will continue to investigate this issue,” Evans said. “I have previously mentioned the Iranian regime’s use of criminal proxies, and we are looking into whether this tactic is being employed in London.”
Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis of the UK expressed that although the fire at Kenton did not result in significant damage, it marked the third attack on a Jewish site in the capital within less than a week.
“The escalating violence and intimidation against the British Jewish community are deeply alarming,” the Chief Rabbi said on the X platform. “Thankfully, no lives have been lost so far, but we cannot and must not wait for the situation to escalate before realizing how perilous it is for our entire society.”
Last Friday night (April 17), a business establishment related to the Jewish community was targeted in an attempted arson attack. A few days ago, two suspects were arrested for attempting to set fire to another Jewish synagogue in London.
Last month, several ambulances belonging to the Jewish volunteer emergency organization Hatzola were parked near a synagogue in Golders Green and were subsequently burned in an arson attack.