Counter-terror police have arrested two people in connection with a suspected arson attack on a memorial wall in Golders Green, north-west London. The Metropolitan Police said a 46-year-old man and a 38-year-old woman were detained at an address in Romford, east London, on suspicion of arson. They remain in custody at a London police station.
The memorial wall, located near a Jewish centre, honours thousands of protesters killed in a crackdown in Iran in January. The wall was not damaged in the incident, which occurred at around 12.15am on Monday 27 April and was reported later that evening. The investigation is being led by counter-terrorism police, although the Met has stated it is not being treated as a terrorist incident.
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 noted that CTP London has made 30 arrests and charged nine people in relation to a series of incidents in north-west London since the arson attack on Hatzola ambulances in Golders Green in March.
Flanagan added: “With the threat level now raised to severe, everyone can play their part to keep themselves and their communities safe. If you have concerns about someone behaving suspiciously, please report it to us.”
