Two people have been arrested as part of a counter-terrorism investigation into a suspected arson attack at a memorial wall in Golders Green, north-west London. The Metropolitan Police confirmed that a 46-year-old man and a 38-year-old woman were detained at an address in Romford, east London, where officers are also conducting searches.
Both suspects were arrested on suspicion of arson and remain in custody at a London police station. Scotland Yard stated that while the investigation is being led by counter-terrorism police, the incident is not being treated as a terrorist attack. The memorial wall, located near a Jewish centre and dedicated to protesters killed in Iran in January, was not damaged.
The arrests come amid a series of attacks on Jewish-linked premises in the area. Over the past month, counter-terrorism officers have arrested more than two dozen people in connection with incidents including the torching of ambulances belonging to the Jewish volunteer emergency service Hatzola in Golders Green on 23 March.
Commander Helen Flanagan, head of counter-terrorism policing London, said: “We are committed to protecting vulnerable communities in the capital. Detectives have been conducting extensive enquiries since this incident was reported to us last week and these two arrests are the result of that hard work.” She added that a total of 30 arrests have been made and nine people charged in connection with the recent incidents.
The suspected arson at the memorial wall occurred at around 12.15am on Monday 27 April and was reported just before 7.30pm that day. Flanagan urged the public to report any suspicious behaviour, noting that the threat level has been raised to severe.
