London police probe ‘anti-Semitic arson attack’ after Jewish charity ambulances set ablaze | EUROtoday

British police mentioned Monday they have been investigating a suspected arson assault as an ant-Semitic hate crime after volunteer ambulances run by a Jewish organisation have been set on hearth.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the burning of 4 automobiles in north London as a “deeply shocking anti-Semitic arson attack”.

“My thoughts are with the Jewish community who are waking up this morning to this horrific news. Anti-Semitism has no place in our society,” he mentioned in a put up on X.

The London Fire Brigade mentioned it was alerted to automobiles on hearth at Highfield Court in Golders Green at 1:40am (0140 GMT).

Some 40 firefighters referred to as to the scene discovered that a number of cylinders on the automobiles had exploded, breaking home windows in an adjoining block.

London’s Metropolitan Police power mentioned the burnt automobiles have been 4 Hatzalah ambulances belonging to the Jewish Community Ambulance service.

“Officers remain on scene and the arson attack is being treated as an anti-Semitic hate crime,” police mentioned in a press release.

No accidents have been reported and all of the fires have been put out, police added.

“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,” superintendent Sarah Jackson mentioned, including that no arrest has been made.

Nearby houses have been evacuated as a precaution whereas some roads within the space have been closed.

London Fire Brigade mentioned the reason for the fireplace is below investigation.

Shomrim North West London, a charity and volunteer neighbourhood watch group, condemned the arson, branding it a “targeted and deeply concerning incident affecting a vital emergency service serving the local Jewish community”.

“An attack on these ambulances is an attack on the safety, wellbeing, and resilience of our community… There is no place for anti-Semitism or hate in our society,” the group wrote on Facebook.

Health Secretary West Streeting described the incident as “a sickening attack on Jewish ambulances” and referred to as on anybody with data to share it with police.

Community Security Trust (CST), a charity which displays antisemitism within the UK, mentioned in a press release on X that it was aiding police of their enquiries.

The ambulances are run by Hatzola, which was established in 1979 and is operated by volunteers.

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It supplies free medical transportation and emergency response to these residing in North London.

Monitoring teams have reported an upsurge in anti-Semitic and Islamophobic incidents in Britain in recent times.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)