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U.K police investigating if attacks in London are the work of Iranian proxies
TL;DR
U.K. police are investigating if recent arson attacks on Jewish sites in London are linked to Iranian proxies. The chief rabbi has expressed concerns over a campaign of violence against British Jews.
Key points
- U.K. police investigating arson attacks
- Attacks on Jewish sites in London
- Possible involvement of Iranian proxies
- Concerns raised by the chief rabbi
- Campaign of violence against British Jews
Mentioned in this story
Metropolitan Policechief rabbiLondon
Iranian proxies
Police officers patrol at a cordon near Kenton United Synagogue in Harrow, a suburb of London, Sunday, April 19, 2026. Jamie Lashmar/AP
Jamie Lashmar/AP
LONDON — U.K. police said Sunday they are investigating whether a string of arson attacks on Jewish sites in London are the work of Iranian proxies, as the country's chief rabbi said British Jews are facing a campaign of violence and intimidation.
The Metropolitan Police force says counterterror officers are probing fires at synagogues and other sites linked to the Jewish community, as well as an attack on a Persian-language media company.
No one has been injured in the blazes, the latest of which caused minor damage to a north London synagogue on Saturday night.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans said the attacks had been claimed online by a group calling itself Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia.
"We are aware of public reporting that suggests this group may have links to Iran. As you would expect, we will continue to explore that question as our investigation evolves," she said.
"I've spoken previously about the Iranian regime's use of criminal proxies, and we're considering whether this tactic is being used here in London," she added.
Israel's government has described Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia, whose name means the Islamic Movement of the Companions of the Right, as a recently founded group with suspected links to "an Iranian proxy" that has also claimed responsibility for synagogue attacks in Belgium and the Netherlands.
The police force has deployed extra uniformed and plainclothes officers to northwest London after attacks in the past month on synagogues, Jewish charity ambulances and a Persian-language media organization critical of Iran's government.
In the most serious incident, four ambulances belonging to a Jewish charity were torched on March 23 in the Golders Green neighborhood,
No one has been injured in any of the incidents, which all happened within a few miles of each other. Several people, ranging in age from teens to people in their 40s, have been arrested and charged.
Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis said on X that "a sustained campaign of violence and intimidation against the Jewish community of the UK is gathering momentum.
Q&A
What incidents are U.K. police investigating in London?
Police are investigating a series of arson attacks on Jewish sites and an attack on a Persian-language media company.
What did the chief rabbi say about the situation for British Jews?
The chief rabbi stated that British Jews are facing a campaign of violence and intimidation.
Are the arson attacks in London linked to Iranian proxies?
Yes, U.K. police are probing whether Iranian proxies are behind the arson attacks on Jewish community sites.
What type of sites were targeted in the arson attacks in London?
The attacks targeted synagogues and other locations associated with the Jewish community.
