23 March 2026 , 09:07
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An arson attack on ambulances belonging to a Jewish community ambulance service in north London is being treated as an antisemitic hate crime, the Metropolitan Police has said.
Four Hatzola ambulances were set ablaze in Golders Green in the early hours of Monday morning, causing several explosions - believed to be linked to gas canisters onboard the vehicles, the force said.
"We are in the process of examining CCTV and are aware of online footage. We believe we are looking for three suspects at this early stage," said Supt Sarah Jackson, who leads policing in the area.
The London Fire Brigade was called to Highfield Road at around 01:40 GMT. No injuries have been reported.
Dozens of residents were evacuated from their homes in the early hours of Monday morning following the explosions. Around 30 people have been taken to a local shelter.
Nearby houses were evacuated as a precaution and road closures put in place. Six fire engines and about 40 firefighters were sent to contain the fires, police said. The blaze was brought under control at 03:06, it added.
Local resident and councillor Shimon Ryde told the BBC that the ambulances were close to the Mchzike Hadath synagogue.
"I was advised that the Hatzola ambulance centre had been attacked, which is right next to a synagogue," Ryde said, speaking from the shelter.
"It’s very shocking, it’s not unexpected... the Jewish community is very aware of the danger we live in".
Another local resident, Ushi Gross, said he had heard an "explosion" shortly after 01:30 GMT and "four ambulances" were on fire.
Many people in the Jewish community are said to be deeply concerned by the attack, with some saying it may be linked to wider global tensions.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer described it as "a deeply shocking antisemitic arson attack".
"My thoughts are with the Jewish community who are waking up this morning to this horrific news. Antisemitism has no place in our society," he wrote on X.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting echoed the statement and said, "we must stand together against antisemitic hatred".
Hatzola is a large non-profit, Jewish-led organization that provides free emergency medical response and transportation to hospitals.
Run by volunteers, it has served the North London community of Golders Green, which has a large Jewish population, since 1979.
Supt Jackson said: "We know this incident will cause a great deal of community concern and officers remain on scene to carry out urgent enquiries."
There have been no arrests so far, police said. Anyone with information has been urged to come forward.
Police said they were "engaged with faith leaders" and "were carrying out additional patrols in the local area".
Reports of antisemitic incidents have risen in the UK following the October 2023 Hamas attacks in Israel that began the war in Gaza.
The volunteer-run Community Security Trust (CST), which provides security and monitors antisemitism in the UK, said that it was assisting police in their enquiries.
"This has obvious comparison to similar antisemitic attacks recently in Belgium and the Netherlands," it said in a statement on X.
World Affairs Correspondent