In London, authorities have launched an investigation into arson attacks targeting Jewish locations, with potential links to Iran being explored. The UK’s chief rabbi has expressed concern, stating that these incidents indicate an increasing wave of violence against the Jewish community.
The most recent attack occurred at Kenton United Synagogue in Harrow, shortly after midnight. This marks the third such incident within a week, prompting UK counter-terrorism police to take charge of the ongoing investigations.
A group supportive of the Iranian government has claimed responsibility, also acknowledging its involvement in various attacks across Europe on US, Israeli, and Jewish sites.
“As the situation in the Middle East continues to develop, we, along with our partners, remain vigilant against any potential Iranian hostile actions within the UK,” stated Vicki Evans, Britain’s senior national coordinator for Counter Terrorism Policing, during a press briefing.
“We are aware of reports suggesting that this group might have ties to Iran, and as expected, we will thoroughly investigate this possibility as our inquiry progresses,” she added.
‘Sustained campaign of violence’
Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis described the Kenton fire, which fortunately resulted in no significant damage, as the third “cowardly” assault on Jewish sites in London in under a week.
“A sustained campaign of violence and intimidation against the Jewish community of the UK is gathering momentum,” Mirvis said on X. “Thank God, no lives have been lost, but we cannot, and must not, wait for that to change before we understand just how dangerous this moment is for all of our society.”
On Friday night, there was an attempted arson attack on a business premises with links to the Jewish community, while a few days earlier police arrested two suspects over an attempted arson attack on another synagogue in the capital.
Meanwhile an area around the Israeli embassy in London was cordoned off following an online report that it had been targeted with drones carrying “dangerous substances”. Police later said items they found did not contain any harmful or hazardous substances.
Last month, several ambulances belonging to the Jewish volunteer emergency service Hatzola, which were parked near a synagogue in Golders Green, were torched.
Police said they had boosted their presence in the area, and it was officers on a “deterrence” patrol shortly after midnight who spotted a window at the Kenton synagogue had been damaged. They found an accelerant had been thrown inside.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he was appalled by the attempted antisemitic arson attacks. “This is abhorrent and it will not be tolerated. Attacks on our Jewish community are attacks on Britain,” he wrote on X.
Pro-Iranian group claims responsibility
The Pro-Iranian group Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiyya (HAYI) or Movement of the Companions of the Right Hand of Islam, has said it is responsible, and posted a video purporting to show the attack on the Kenton synagogue on social media.
“This same group has claimed several incidents over recent months at places of worship, business and financial institutions across Europe,” Evans said. “These locations all appear to be linked to Jewish or Israeli interests.”
British police and security services have warned for a number of years of Iran hiring proxies to carry out attacks on its behalf. Last month, two men were charged with being tasked by Tehran to carry out hostile surveillance on the Israeli Embassy and other Jewish targets.
“This is recruiting violence as a service, and the people who conduct that violence often have little or no allegiance to the cause and are taking quick cash for their crimes,” Evans said.
