{"id":944451,"date":"2026-05-07T19:35:23","date_gmt":"2026-05-07T19:35:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/944451\/"},"modified":"2026-05-07T19:35:23","modified_gmt":"2026-05-07T19:35:23","slug":"uk-police-make-third-arrest-over-attempted-arson-on-london-synagogue-last-month","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/944451\/","title":{"rendered":"UK police make third arrest over attempted arson on London synagogue last month"},"content":{"rendered":"

British counterterrorism police arrested a 19-year-old man on Thursday in connection with an attempted arson attack on a synagogue in north London last month, marking the third arrest in the investigation, which comes amid a wave of antisemitic attacks.<\/p>\n

The man was arrested on suspicion of attempted arson and remains in custody, London\u2019s Metropolitan Police said, adding that they were working together with national counterterror forces.<\/p>\n

The latest arrest relates to an incident in the early hours of April 15 at a synagogue in Finchley, north London, in which no damage was caused and no injuries were reported.<\/p>\n

A 38-year-old woman and a 46-year-old man were arrested on the day of the attack on suspicion of arson endangering life. Both have since been released on bail until July.<\/p>\n

Police on Thursday said the inquiry is being led by Counter Terrorism Policing London and forms part of a wider set of investigations into recent arson attacks across the capital targeting Jewish sites.<\/p>\n

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Last month, arsonists burned down four ambulances<\/a> belonging to the Jewish Hatzola charity, which were parked next to a synagogue in the adjoining, largely Jewish neighborhood of Golders Green. Another synagogue<\/a>, and a third synagogue building<\/a> that\u2019s been repurposed, have also been targeted.<\/p>\n

Additionally, a knife-wielding assailant stabbed two Jewish men<\/a>, aged 76 and 34, seriously wounding both, in an antisemitic terror attack.<\/p>\n

\t\"\"<\/a>
\n\t\tBurned ambulances in a parking lot at Golders Green in London, March 23, 2026, after an arson attack on four vehicles belonging to a Jewish ambulance service in London. (AP\/Alberto Pezzali)<\/p>\n

Arsonists have also targeted a Persian-language news outlet<\/a> hostile to the Iranian regime, and a memorial wall<\/a> bearing photos of Iranians killed by the Islamic Republic and Israelis killed by Hamas.<\/p>\n

Authorities have suggested<\/a> Tehran may be behind some of the attacks, and a newly formed terror group \u2013 Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiya (HAYI) \u2013 has claimed responsibility for some of them. The group is believed to have links to Iran.<\/p>\n

Police said Thursday that a total of 30 people have been arrested so far in connection with recent arson attacks, eight of whom have been charged with various offenses, and one of whom \u2013 a 17-year-old male \u2013 has pleaded guilty to arson, in connection with an attack on Kenton Synagogue.<\/p>\n

They are among some 80 people arrested in connection with both the string of arsons and other recent antisemitic hate crimes, according to figures provided earlier this week.<\/p>\n

London\u2019s Metropolitan Police on Wednesday announced the creation of a special unit to protect Jews<\/a>, which will initially comprise 100 extra officers and combine neighborhood policing with \u201cspecialist protection and counterterrorism capabilities.\u201d<\/p>\n

On Tuesday, the chief prosecutor for England and Wales, Stephen Parkinson, announced hate crime prosecutions were set to be fast-tracked due to the \u201cdeeply troubling rise in antisemitic incidents.\u201d<\/p>\n


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