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Al Jazeera English1 min read
Golders Green attack claim highlights rise of shadowy Iran-linked group
TL;DR
An Iran-linked group, Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia, claimed responsibility for a knife attack on two British Jews in Golders Green shortly after it occurred. The police are investigating the suspect's violent history but found no evidence of Iranian state involvement.
Key points
- HAYI claimed responsibility for the Golders Green attack on Telegram.
- The attack targeted two British Jewish individuals.
- The suspect has a history of serious violence and mental health issues.
- No evidence of Iranian state involvement has been found.
- HAYI's claims are seen as opportunistic amid recent attacks on the Jewish community.
Mentioned in this story
Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-IslamiaGolders GreenMark Rowley
It took just over an hour after the horrific knife attack on two British Jewish people in Golders Green, north London, for an Iran-linked terror group, Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia (HAYI), to make a claim of responsibility on a Telegram channel.
Counter-terror police are aware of the initial posting – a brief statement accompanied by the group’s logo – put online at 12.23pm and a follow-up 40 minutes later showing a violent attack at a bus stop.
However, as inquiries continue, the police are also aware that the 45-year-old man arrested in the street on suspicion of attempted murder has “a history of serious violence and mental health issues”, according to Met chief Mark Rowley.
Investigators add there is no initial evidence of Iranian state direction for the Golders Green attacks and that therefore the statements made by HAYI on social media are most likely to be opportunistic.
Nevertheless, claims of responsibility by HAYI, a new group, have become a feature of a spate of arson and attempted arson attacks targeting the Jewish community over the last month or so in north London.
Three men and a 17-year-old are awaiting trial accused of setting fire to four Jewish community ambulances, operated by the charity Hatzola, in Golders Green in the early hours of 23 March. The fire caused an estimated £1m in damage.
HAYI first appeared online on 9 March, as the US-Israel attack on Iran neared the end of its second week, with a post claiming it was “the start of its military operations against US and Israeli interests around the world”, according to the International Centre for Counter-Terrorism.
It has also claimed responsibility for attacks on Jewish sites in Europe, starting with an attack on a synagogue in Liège, Belgium on 9 March. An improvised explosive detonated at 4am, shattering windows, but causing no injuries.
Other claims followed elsewhere in Europe. One followed an arson attack on a synagogue in Rotterdam in the Netherlands on 13 March, in which four people were arrested; another came after an explosion outside a Jewish school in Amsterdam, a day later. No injuries were reported.
Investigators’ lead hypothesis is that there is a degree of Iranian state direction behind HAYI, and the search for evidence continues.
In the case of the Rotterdam and Jewish school attacks, the claims were made promptly after attacks that took place in the middle of the night, according to the International Centre for Counter-Terrorism. But other claims are considered to be disinformation or hoaxes.
Earlier this month, a short video posted by the group, featuring two individuals in hazmat suits, claimed that the Israeli embassy in London was to be targeted by two drones containing “radioactive and carcinogenic” materials.
Q&A
What is Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia (HAYI)?
Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia (HAYI) is a newly emerged terror group linked to Iran that has claimed responsibility for various attacks, including the recent knife attack in Golders Green.
What happened during the Golders Green attack?
A knife attack occurred in Golders Green, north London, targeting two British Jewish individuals, leading to the arrest of a 45-year-old man suspected of attempted murder.
Is there evidence of Iranian state involvement in the Golders Green attack?
Investigators have found no initial evidence of Iranian state direction regarding the Golders Green attacks, suggesting that claims made by HAYI may be opportunistic.
What recent incidents have involved the Jewish community in north London?
The Jewish community in north London has faced a series of arson and attempted arson attacks over the past month, with claims of responsibility from HAYI.
