Police in London are actively investigating a suspected antisemitic hate crime after four vehicles belonging to a Jewish ambulance service were deliberately set on fire early Monday morning. The incident occurred in the Golders Green neighbourhood, an area with a significant Jewish population, prompting urgent community concerns and a swift emergency response.
Explosions and Evacuations in Residential Area
Officers were called to the scene following reports of a fire, where they discovered four ambulances operated by Hatzola Northwest, a volunteer organisation providing emergency medical services, severely damaged. The London Fire Brigade confirmed that multiple cylinders on the vehicles exploded during the blaze, causing windows to shatter in an adjacent block of flats.
Authorities stated that no injuries have been reported, and the fire has been brought under control. However, nearby homes were evacuated as a precautionary measure due to the risk posed by the explosions, which were linked to gas canisters on the ambulances.
Eyewitness Describes Terrifying Scene
Mark Reisner, a local resident and eyewitness, described hearing loud explosions and arriving just as the third ambulance was blowing up. "A very loud explosion, you sort of felt it go through your guts," he told Sky News, adding that the incident has left the community reeling with confusion and shock.
Police Search for Three Suspects
Police Superintendent Sarah Jackson emphasised that this attack will cause significant community concern, with officers remaining on site to conduct urgent enquiries. She confirmed that police are looking for three suspects in connection with the arson, but no arrests have been made yet. The cause of the fire is under thorough investigation as authorities treat it as a targeted hate crime.
Community Organisations Condemn Targeted Attack
Shomrim, a nonprofit neighbourhood watch group operating in the area, strongly condemned the incident. In a post on social media platform X, they stated, "This was not only a criminal act of arson, but a targeted and deeply concerning incident affecting a vital emergency service serving the local Jewish community."
Rising Antisemitic Incidents Across the UK
This attack occurs against a backdrop of escalating antisemitic incidents in the United Kingdom. According to the Community Security Trust, an organisation dedicated to protecting the Jewish community, reported antisemitic incidents have soared since the start of the Israel-Hamas War in late 2023.
The group recorded 3,700 incidents in 2025, a dramatic increase from 1,662 in 2022. In a related tragic event from October 2025, an attacker drove a car into people gathered outside a Manchester synagogue during Yom Kippur celebrations, stabbing one person to death, with another fatality occurring from police gunfire during the response.
This latest arson attack on emergency service vehicles highlights ongoing security challenges and hate crime threats facing Jewish communities in London and beyond, underscoring the need for continued vigilance and robust law enforcement measures.
