London’s Jewish Community Ambulances Burned, Suspected Hate Crime Sparks Investigation

Four ambulances from a Jewish community organization were set ablaze overnight in Golders Green. The Metropolitan Police stated an investigation has been launched into the suspected antisemitic hate crime.

No injuries were reported following the arson attack. Six fire engines and 40 firefighters responded to the scene, where multiple cylinders on the vehicles exploded, causing windows to break in an adjacent block of flats.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting described the incident as “sickening,” emphasizing the need to stand together against antisemitic hatred. Recent attacks against Jews globally have increased since the October 2023 Hamas attacks in Israel.

Mark Gardner, chief executive of the Community Security Trust, noted a parallel with recent anti-Jewish arson attacks in Liege, Rotterdam, and Amsterdam. The conflict has led to significantly higher levels of antisemitism in Britain, with the most severe incident being the Manchester attack that killed two Jewish worshippers during Yom Kippur last year.