Jewish Community Urged to Stay Calm After Hendon Arson Attack
Counter-terrorism police are investigating an arson attack in Hendon, north-west London, with authorities urging members of the Jewish community to remain calm and vigilant. The incident occurred on Friday evening when a man approached a row of shops carrying a plastic bag containing three bottles of fluid.
Details of the Attack
According to the Metropolitan Police, the man placed the bag by a building in Hendon before attempting to light the items inside. When they failed to fully ignite, he fled the scene. Police were called at 10.31pm on Friday, and fire crews attended. No arrests have been made, and the attack caused minimal damage to a nearby doorway with no injuries reported.
A police cordon was established around the building, which was formerly used by the Jewish community. A 26-year-old local resident expressed concern, stating, "It's getting too close to home now. It's worrying that this sort of thing is happening at the moment."
Community Response and Investigation
The Community Security Trust (CST) issued a statement acknowledging the attempted arson and emphasizing collaboration with police. A CST spokesperson said, "We are working closely with police to assist their investigation and to support the Jewish community. We urge people to remain calm and to report any suspicious activity, at any time of day or night, to police immediately on 999 and then to CST."
Counter Terrorism Policing London is leading the investigation, supported by the Met's north-west command area. Commander Helen Flanagan noted that while the incident is not currently linked to other attacks in the area, counter-terror officers are involved due to similarities with previous events. She stated, "We will be relentless in our pursuit of those responsible for this and other, similar, hateful acts against London's communities."
Context of Recent Incidents
This attack follows a series of concerning events in north-west London. On March 23, four Jewish community ambulances were torched in Golders Green. Additionally, on Wednesday night, an ignited container was thrown into a Persian media organisation's premises in Wembley in another attempted arson.
Detective Chief Superintendent Luke Williams, who leads policing in the area, highlighted ongoing efforts to reassure the community. He said, "Since last month's attack in Golders Green, we have stepped up police patrols and vigilance to reassure communities and disrupt offenders. This includes armed police patrols as well as deployments of officers from Project Servator."
Authorities have increased police presence in the area, with local officers working alongside counter-terrorism units. The incident is not being treated as a terrorist act, but investigations continue to determine any potential links to previous attacks.
