Counter-terrorism police have arrested three more individuals in connection with a suspected arson attack on ambulances operated by a Jewish charity in Golders Green, north London. The Metropolitan Police confirmed that a 19-year-old man, a 20-year-old man, and a 17-year-old boy were arrested early on Wednesday on suspicion of conspiracy to commit arson with intent to endanger life. They remain in police custody.
The arrests follow an incident on 23 March, when four ambulances belonging to Hatzola Northwest, a Jewish volunteer-run charity providing free medical transport and emergency response, were set alight on Highfield Road near the Machzike Hadath synagogue. The attack is being treated as an antisemitic hate crime and is under investigation by counter-terrorism detectives, though it has not been officially declared an act of terrorism.
Police searched the suspects' homes in east London on Wednesday afternoon. The two older men are British nationals, while the 17-year-old holds dual British and Pakistani citizenship. Two other men, aged 47 and 45, previously arrested in connection with the attack, were released on bail last Thursday pending further enquiries.
Commander Helen Flanagan, head of the Met's counter-terrorism policing, stated: 'We know concern among the Jewish community remains high, but I hope these arrests show that we are doing everything we can to bring those responsible to justice.' She added that the support from the local community has been 'incredible'.
Detective Chief Superintendent Luke Williams, who leads policing in north-west London, noted that an enhanced policing plan has been implemented, particularly around the Passover festival period, to protect communities and detect crime. The Met previously indicated that CCTV footage suggested at least three people were involved in the attack.
