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The Guardian World1 min read
Met Police investigate potential Iran links to London arson attacks
TL;DR
The Metropolitan Police are investigating potential links between recent arson attacks on Jewish sites in North London and Iranian proxies. The Counter Terrorism Policing unit is leading the investigation following an attack at the Kenton United Synagogue.
Key points
- Metropolitan Police investigating arson attacks in North London
- Potential links to Iranian proxies being explored
- Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia group claimed responsibility
Mentioned in this story
Metropolitan PoliceHarakat Ashab al-Yamin al-IslamiaNorth LondonKenton United Synagogue
The United Kingdom’s Metropolitan Police are investigating whether a recent spate of arson attacks on Jewish sites in North London could be linked to Iranian proxies.
Counter Terrorism Policing is leading investigations into the incidents, the Met Police said on Sunday, after an arson attack at the Kenton United Synagogue in northwestern London occurred overnight.
There have been no injuries in the blazes, the latest of which caused minor damage.
Vicki Evans, deputy assistant commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, said most of the attacks have been claimed by the Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia group (Islamic Movement of the Companions of the Right), often shortened to Ashab al-Yamin.
She said the group has also claimed several incidents at places of worship as well as business and financial institutions in Europe in recent months.
Evans said police were aware of “public reporting that this group may have links to Iran”.
She added that she has spoken before about Iran’s “routine uses of criminal proxies” and police were considering whether this tactic of “recruiting violence as a service” was being used in London.
Ashab al-Yamin emerged online in March and has claimed responsibility for several attacks on Jewish sites in Europe. It also claimed responsibility for an attack on the Persian-language Iran International news channel in London.
Recent arson incidents in London have included a bottle containing accelerant being thrown inside the Finchley Reform Synagogue in North London on Wednesday and Jewish-owned Hatzola ambulances being set alight in the car park of a synagogue in Golders Green on March 23. On Friday night, a man tried to light a bag containing three bottles of fluid outside the former premises of the Jewish Futures charity in Hendon.
The UK’s chief rabbi, Ephraim Mirvis, said the Kenton fire was the third “cowardly” attack on Jewish sites in the British capital in less than 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.”
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he was “appalled” by the recent attacks at Jewish sites and those responsible would be brought to justice.
“This is abhorrent and it will not be tolerated. Attacks on our Jewish community are attacks on Britain,” he said in a post on X.
Q&A
What recent incidents are the Metropolitan Police investigating in North London?
The Metropolitan Police are investigating a series of arson attacks on Jewish sites, including an incident at the Kenton United Synagogue.
Which group has claimed responsibility for the arson attacks in London?
The Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia group has claimed responsibility for most of the arson attacks on Jewish sites in North London.
Are there any injuries reported from the arson attacks in North London?
No injuries have been reported from the recent arson attacks in North London, although there has been minor damage.
