A synagogue in north London has recently become the latest target in a troubling series of arson attacks aimed at Jewish sites in the city, according to a security organization dedicated to protecting Britain’s Jewish community.
The Community Security Trust released a statement acknowledging another arson attempt, this time involving a synagogue in north London. This follows a series of similar incidents affecting Jewish communities in Finchley, Golders Green, and Hendon.
“In this particular incident, there was only minor smoke damage to an internal room, with no injuries or significant structural harm reported,” the statement added.
As of now, London’s police have yet to provide any comments regarding the incident at Kenton United Synagogue.
Area cordoned off around Israeli Embassy
On Friday evening, an attempted arson attack targeted a business with connections to the Jewish community. Just days prior, police had arrested two individuals in connection with another attempted arson at a synagogue in the city.
In a related development, authorities cordoned off the area surrounding the Israeli embassy in London after reports surfaced online suggesting it had been threatened by drones carrying “hazardous 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.
“Last night yet another synagogue, this time in Kenton, was targeted in a cowardly arson attack,” Britain’s Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis said on X.
“A sustained campaign of violence and intimidation against the Jewish community of the UK is gathering momentum.”
Pro-Iranian group claims responsibility
Pro-Iranian group Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiyya, or Movement of the Companions of the Right Hand of Islam, has claimed responsibility for most of these incidents, posting on social media that it was behind the Kenton arson, along with a video purporting to show the attack.
The group has also said it was responsible for a spate of attacks across Europe on U.S., Israeli and Jewish targets.
Police said on Saturday they had boosted their presence in the area, including the deployment of armed response vehicles and resources from the counter-terrorism division.
“We recognise the feeling of concern among local people and do not underestimate the impact of incidents of this nature – particularly our Jewish communities,” Detective Chief Superintendent Luke Williams, who leads policing in the area, said in a statement.
“We continue to work with our colleagues from Counter Terrorism Policing who are leading the investigations into all of these incidents due to the similar circumstances and online claims of responsibility.”
