Police Probe Iranian-Backed 'Thugs for Hire' in Synagogue Arson Case
Two teenagers have been arrested in connection with an arson attack on a synagogue in north London, as detectives investigate possible Iranian-backed "thugs for hire" involved in what authorities describe as a "modern hybrid war, fought by proxies." The incident has heightened concerns over a pattern of targeted attacks on Jewish community premises and organisations in the capital.
Arrests Made in Kenton Synagogue Attack
A 17-year-old boy and a 19-year-old man were arrested overnight in relation to the targeting of the Kenton United Synagogue in Harrow, north London, over the weekend. Matt Jukes, deputy commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, confirmed the arrests during an interview on the BBC Radio 4 Today Programme. He emphasised that officers are actively investigating Iranian-backed proxies in connection with this incident and other recent attacks on the Jewish community.
Mr Jukes stated, "I think that's a very serious line of inquiry in relation to these events. We have seen a pattern with other actors with thugs for hire, people taking cash, it looks like quick and easy money." He highlighted previous cases, such as that of Dylan Earl, who is serving a 17-year prison sentence for acting on behalf of the Wagner group, a Russian-connected entity. "This is part of the modern hybrid war, fought by proxies," Jukes added.
Details of the Arson Incident
According to a Metropolitan Police spokesperson, the attack occurred at midnight on Sunday when a "bottle with some sort of accelerant had been thrown through the window" of the synagogue. Smoke was observed inside a room, prompting a swift response from authorities. Thousands of extra patrols have been deployed across London, with a specially assigned officer raising the alarm at the Kenton synagogue in the early hours of Sunday. It is understood that one officer noticed a smashed window at the front of the building, which is situated between a school and a children's playground at the end of a broad cul-de-sac.
Online Claim of Responsibility
A video claiming responsibility for the attack was later posted online by a group calling itself Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia – the Islamic Movement of the Companions of the Righteous. This group was unknown until a month ago, and police suspect it may be linked to Iranian intelligence. The video featured the group's logo, an arm brandishing an assault rifle, and messages in Arabic, English, and Hebrew.
The English message proclaimed, "Kenton United Synagogue in London is one of the centers of Zionist influence in the British capital." It went on to identify the rabbi and the chairwoman of the synagogue, describing them as "key instruments of this Zionist base in London." This claim follows a similar pattern from four weeks ago, when four Jewish community ambulances were torched in Golders Green, north-west London, an incident also claimed by Ashab al-Yamin in a video circulated on Telegram.
Broader Pattern of Attacks
Mr Jukes revealed that over the last weeks, police have made 15 arrests in relation to a series of six incidents targeting Jewish premises, the Jewish-led ambulance service, and a Persian media organisation. Last Wednesday, a man and a woman were arrested after petrol bombs were thrown at the Finchley Reform Synagogue in north London. Additionally, there was an attempted attack on an anti-Iranian regime media company in Wembley.
Fears of attacks on London's Israeli embassy emerged as the weekend dawned, and there was an abortive arson attack on a Jewish-linked building in Hendon, north-west London, on Saturday. Mr Jukes has previously warned that "thugs for hire" carrying out such attacks were playing "a mug's game" leading to "long prison sentences."
The investigation continues as authorities work to dismantle what appears to be a coordinated effort by proxies, potentially backed by foreign states, to target Jewish communities in London. The arrests of the two teenagers mark a significant step, but police remain vigilant amid ongoing threats.
