Counter-terrorism investigators are examining three separate arson attacks in London against an Iranian dissident media outlet and Jewish targets, with fears that the Iranian state may be behind them. The latest incident occurred on Wednesday evening outside the offices of Iran International, a Persian-language news channel critical of the Tehran regime, in Wembley.
Police said an ignited container was thrown at a car park at the company's offices, but the fire immediately went out. Following a police pursuit involving an armed response vehicle, a 16-year-old boy and two men aged 19 and 21 were arrested on suspicion of arson endangering life.
The attack followed an attempted firebombing of Finchley Reform Synagogue on Wednesday morning, and an arson attack last month on four ambulances in Golders Green run by a Jewish charity. A 47-year-old woman and a 46-year-old man remain in custody in connection with the synagogue incident.
On Thursday, Scotland Yard announced the arrest of two 18-year-olds at separate addresses in east London in relation to the ambulance attack. One was arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life, the other for conspiracy to commit arson. Three men have already been charged over that attack, and another remains on bail.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed all three incidents are being investigated by London's counter-terrorism unit. Deputy Commissioner Matt Jukes said they are being treated as separate incidents, and it is too early to speculate on motives. He warned those carrying out attacks for foreign states: 'For the people who think you can make quick and easy money by committing crimes for others, we will show that they are fools.'
Jukes cited the case of Dylan Earl, who is serving 17 years for a Russian-ordered arson attack, as a warning. The police declined to confirm whether Iran is suspected of directing proxies, but noted that 'hostile state activity' accounts for a fifth of counter-terrorism policing workload. The militant group Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia has claimed responsibility for the ambulance attack.
