The Metropolitan Police have launched a manhunt after two suspects attempted to firebomb Finchley Reform Synagogue in an attack being treated as an antisemitic hate crime. Just after midnight on Wednesday, two individuals wearing dark clothing and balaclavas approached the building, throwing a brick and two bottles suspected to contain petrol. Neither bottle ignited, and no damage or injuries were reported.
Cantor Zöe Jacobs, the senior clergy at the synagogue, described the attack as an attempt to intimidate the British Jewish community, but vowed that the congregation would not be deterred. “We will continue to prioritise building bridges across the wider Barnet community,” she said. The synagogue hosts a nursery, a homeless shelter, and serves as a safe space for refugees.
The Community Security Trust (CST) is working with police and supporting the synagogue. Detective Chief Superintendent Luke Williams said detectives from the Met’s North West Command Unit, supported by Counter Terrorism Policing London, are investigating. He urged anyone with CCTV, dashcam footage, or information to come forward, and confirmed a heightened police presence in the area.
Local MP Sarah Sackman condemned the attack, stating, “British Jews must be free to go about their lives without fear.” Mayor Sadiq Khan expressed gratitude for the police’s swift response, calling the incident “appalling.” The Jewish Leadership Council and Holocaust Educational Trust also voiced horror, linking the attack to a broader rise in antisemitism.
