Four ambulances belonging to a Jewish volunteer emergency service were set on fire in north London in what police are treating as an antisemitic hate crime.
The attack took place in Golders Green, a predominantly Jewish area, where the vehicles were parked near a synagogue. Explosions caused by gas cylinders inside the ambulances shattered nearby windows and forced evacuations, but no injuries were reported.
The ambulances belonged to Hatzola, a community-based emergency medical organisation that provides free response services.
Police said the fire was deliberate and confirmed an investigation is underway, with early indications pointing to three suspects. The incident is being handled as a hate crime.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the attack as a “deeply shocking antisemitic arson,” stating that such hatred has no place in society.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan and other officials also denounced the incident, while additional police patrols have been deployed to protect Jewish communities.
The attack comes amid a broader rise in antisemitic incidents in the UK and across Europe, increasing concern over the safety of Jewish communities.
