A former London synagogue was attacked Tuesday morning in a suspected arson, the Metropolitan Police announced.
Minor damage was caused to the building gates, but no one was harmed. Initial investigation through security camera footage indicated that the fire was initially set before dawn, the Met said.
“We are taking this incident extremely seriously and we will be working closely with colleagues from Counter Terrorism Policing to support the investigation. The building targeted has not been operational as a synagogue for some years, but that will be of little comfort to the Jewish community in Tower Hamlets, Hackney, and beyond, who are first in my thoughts this morning,” Detective Chief Superintendent Brittany Clark said in a statement.
“Local residents can expect to see an increased police presence in the area while inquiries into this incident continue.”
Counter Terrorism Police head Commander Helen Flanagan, whose force was leading the investigation, given a spate of arson and other attacks against Jewish, Israeli, and Iranian dissident sites in London, said in a statement that potential links to the new arson and previous incidents will be considered.
The spate of attacks began with the arson of four Hatzola ambulances in the Golders Green area on March 23.
The same day as the Iran International incident, arsonists attempted to attack the Finchley Reform Synagogue by placing bottles with accelerants next to the synagogue and throwing a brick at the alleged firebomb. A building that was once the premises of a Jewish group, still with the organization’s name on the window, was the target of an arson attempt on April 17.
Three bottles containing accelerants were placed next to a building and set alight. The bottles failed to fully ignite, but minor damage was caused to the shopfront. The same day, a burning container was thrown into the car park of Iran International’s office.
On April 19, the Kenton United Synagogue was firebombed, causing minor smoke damage to a room, but no injuries. Last Monday, a fire was started in Golders Green at the memorial wall for Iranian protesters murdered by the Islamic Regime.
The most dangerous incident claimed by HAYI was the Golders Green stabbing attack on Wednesday, in which a 45-year-old Somali-born terrorist wounded two people before being subdued by police and Jewish neighborhood watch volunteers.