London police are investigating a suspected antisemitic hate crime after four ambulances belonging to a Jewish emergency medical service were set on fire in a London neighborhood with a large Jewish population.
Background
Officers were called to Golders Green early Monday morning after receiving reports of a fire. Four ambulances belonging to Hatzola Northwest, a volunteer organization that provides emergency medical responses to the Jewish community, were damaged in the blaze. The London Fire Brigade said multiple cylinders on the vehicles exploded, causing windows to break in an adjacent block of flats. No injuries have been reported.
The scene unfolded next to Machzike Hadath Synagogue in Golders Green, a neighborhood in northwest London known for its significant Jewish community. Witnesses described hearing loud explosions as the fire spread.
"I heard loud explosions and arrived at just as the third ambulance was blowing up," said Mark Reisner, an eyewitness who lives in the neighborhood. "A very loud explosion, you sort of felt it go through your guts. It's just left us all reeling with confusion and shock."
Nearby homes were evacuated as a precautionary measure while fire crews brought the blaze under control.
The Investigation
Police said they are treating the incident as an "antisemitic hate crime." Police Superintendent Sarah Jackson said officers are carrying out urgent enquiries and are looking for three suspects. No arrests have been made yet.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Police said reports of explosions were linked to gas canisters on the ambulances.
Shomrim, a nonprofit organization that operates a neighborhood watch in the area, condemned the attack. "This was not only a criminal act of arson, but a targeted and deeply concerning incident affecting a vital emergency service serving the local Jewish community," the group said in a post on X.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called it a "deeply shocking antisemitic arson attack," adding that "antisemitism has no place in our society." Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally, the head of the Anglican Church, also condemned the violence. Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis described it as a "sickening assault" and said Jewish communities would meet the incident with shared resolve.
Key Takeaways
- Four ambulances belonging to Hatzola Northwest, a Jewish volunteer ambulance service, were set on fire in Golders Green, London
- Police are treating the incident as a suspected antisemitic hate crime and seeking three suspects
- No injuries were reported, though gas cylinders on the vehicles exploded, breaking windows in a nearby apartment building
- The incident follows a sharp rise in antisemitic incidents in the U.K., with 3,700 reported in 2025, up from 1,662 in 2022
- Last week, two men in London were charged with conducting hostile surveillance of the U.K. Jewish community on behalf of Iran
- In October 2025, a car attack outside a Manchester synagogue killed one person and injured another
What's Next
Police continue their investigation into the arson attack and search for the three suspects. Authorities have not yet announced any court dates or formal charges. Community leaders are calling for increased security measures as concerns about antisemitic violence persist.
The rise in antisemitic incidents across the United Kingdom has prompted heightened vigilance from community security organizations, with authorities pledging continued enforcement against hate-motivated crimes.