Two youngsters arrested over arson assault at synagogue in Harrow | EUROtoday

Two youngsters have been arrested over an arson assault on the Kenton United Synagogue in Harrow, north-west London.

A “bottle with some sort of accelerant had been thrown through the window” at midnight on Sunday and smoke was seen inside a room, a Metropolitan Police spokesperson beforehand stated.

Speaking to the BBC’s Today programme on Monday morning, Matt Jukes, deputy commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, stated a 17-year-old boy and 19-year-old man had been arrested in a single day.

“I’m really pleased to say that overnight, we have news of two arrests in relation to that incident,” he stated.

“We’ve made over the last weeks, 15 arrests in relation to a series of six incidents that have targeted Jewish premises, the Jewish-led ambulance service and a Persian media organisation.”

Minor smoke injury to an inside room was prompted through the synagogue assault, however no accidents or vital structural injury had been reported, the Community Security Trust (CST) stated.

Yehuda Black, the synagogue’s rabbi, stated the merchandise was thrown into the medical room.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer earlier stated in an announcement on X, previously Twitter: “I am appalled by recent attempted antisemitic arson attacks in North London.

“This is abhorrent and it will not be tolerated. Attacks on our Jewish community are attacks on Britain.

“We are increasing visible policing and those responsible will be found and brought to justice. We will not rest in the pursuit of perpetrators.”

Police are investigating Iranian-backed proxies linked to current assaults on the Jewish group, Mr Jukes advised the Today programme.

“I think that’s a very serious line of inquiry in relation to these events, we’ve seen a pattern… people taking cash as it looks like quick and easy money,” he stated.

“Teams I led have put in prison individuals like Dylan Earl, who is serving a 17-year prison sentence for acting on behalf of the Wagner group, in that case, Russian connected. But this is part of the modern hybrid war fought by proxies.”

Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis earlier known as the synagogue incident “a cowardly arson attack” and stated “a sustained campaign of violence and intimidation against the Jewish community of the UK is gathering momentum”.

His assertion shared on X, previously Twitter, stated: “This sustained attack on our community’s ability to worship and live in safety is an attack on the values that bind us all together.”