Arson strikes Jewish ambulances in London’s Golders Green

Several ambulances belonging to a Jewish volunteer rescue organization were deliberately set on fire outside a synagogue in Golders Green, London, home to the city’s largest Jewish community. Police are treating the incident as an antisemitic attack.

The London Fire Brigade alerted police at approximately 01:45 on March 23 after receiving reports of a fire on Highfield Road. Officers arrived to find four Hatzalah ambulances engulfed in flames. Flames and loud explosions reportedly woke nearby residents, prompting evacuations and road closures as a precaution. No injuries were reported, and the fires have since been extinguished. Explosions at the scene are believed to be linked to gas canisters stored on the ambulances.

Security camera footage reviewed by authorities shows three masked individuals approaching one of the Hatzola Northwest ambulances and setting it on fire.

Superintendent Sarah Jackson, who oversees policing in the area, said: “We know this incident will cause a great deal of community concern and officers remain on scene to carry out urgent enquiries. We believe we are looking for three suspects at this early stage.”

She added: “There have been no arrests yet, and we would urge anyone with information to please contact us as soon as possible — you can do so anonymously if you wish. We will be engaging with faith leaders and carrying out additional patrols in the local area as we continue our investigation to provide reassurance and a highly visible presence.”

By Vafa Guliyeva