In a significant development, UK authorities have apprehended two men in connection with what Prime Minister Keir Starmer has denounced as an “antisemitic arson attack.” The investigation is delving into possible ties with Iran, as the Metropolitan Police pursue leads.
The suspects, aged 45 and 47, were taken into custody from locations in northwest and central London. They face accusations of arson with the intention to endanger life. Their residences are currently under police scrutiny as part of the ongoing investigation. The alleged crime involves the torching of four ambulances belonging to Hatzola, a volunteer ambulance service operating in the Golders Green area of north London, as confirmed by police reports.
Reacting to the incident, Starmer expressed his horror on the social media platform X, emphasizing the gravity of the attack on the Jewish community in Golders Green.
Adding a complex layer to the case, an online video has emerged, purportedly showing Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiyya, a group with alleged links to Iran, claiming responsibility for the attack. This same group has been implicated in recent assaults on Jewish sites in Belgium and the Netherlands, according to the Jewish Chronicle.
Detective Chief Superintendent Luke Williams of the Metropolitan Police acknowledged the online claim, stating that verifying the authenticity and credibility of this assertion is a top priority. However, he emphasized that confirmation is still pending as investigations continue.
“We are aware of an online claim from a group taking responsibility for this attack,” Detective Chief Superintendent Luke Williams of the Metropolitan Police previously said. “Establishing the authenticity and accuracy of this claim will be a priority… but it is not something we can confirm at this point.”
When asked about the possible Iran link on Wednesday, the Metropolitan Police told Fox News Digital that establishing any potential motivation behind the attack is part of the ongoing investigation but that it could not comment further at this time.
Commander Helen Flanagan, head of Counterterrorism Policing London, which the Metropolitan Police said is leading the investigation, said Wednesday, “We have been working around the clock since this appalling attack took place and this has led to these arrests being made this morning.”
Firefighters are seen tackling a blaze at Highfield Road in the Golders Green neighborhood of London, following an apparent arson attack on four ambulances belonging to the Jewish Community Ambulance Service. (PA/PA Images via Getty Images)
“This appears to be an important breakthrough in the investigation, but we’re also mindful that CCTV footage of the incident suggests there were at least three people involved,” she added. “We fully recognize the local community will still be concerned, and our investigation very much remains active, and we will continue to work to identify and seek to arrest all of those who may have been involved.”
“We know that community concerns remain heightened, and I want to reassure the community that an enhanced, bespoke policing plan and activity, which is particularly focused around vulnerable areas right across London, will continue over coming days and weeks,” Williams said Wednesday.
Charred remains of ambulances belonging to Hatzola, a Jewish community organization, which were set on fire in an incident that the police say is being treated as an antisemitic hate crime, in northwest London, on Monday, March 23, 2026. (Hannah McKay/TPX Images of the Day/Reuters)
“This includes specialist officers and capability being deployed alongside local officers to help protect certain locations and will also involve highly visible armed police patrols to serve as a deterrent to anyone seeking to cause our communities harm,” he continued. “I must stress that these are precautionary and not in response to any specific threat, and we continue to work alongside our colleagues in counterterrorism policing to support their investigation.”
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