Arson Attack on Jewish Ambulance Service Sparks Fears of Rising Antisemitism in London
LONDON (AP) — London police are investigating a suspected antisemitic hate crime after four ambulances belonging to a Jewish volunteer organization were destroyed in a fire early Monday morning. The incident, which occurred in Golders Green, a neighborhood with a large Jewish population, has ignited concerns about a surge in antisemitism across the United Kingdom and Europe.
Hatzola Northwest, the volunteer ambulance service targeted in the attack, provides emergency medical responses to the Jewish community. Photos from the scene show the vehicles reduced to blackened wreckage. Multiple oxygen tanks on board exploded during the blaze, causing damage to nearby residences, though no injuries were reported.
“We know this incident will cause a great deal of community concern and officers remain on scene to carry out urgent enquiries,” said Police Superintendent Sarah Jackson. Authorities are searching for three suspects seen on security camera footage running from the scene and allegedly setting the ambulances ablaze.
The attack comes amid a documented rise in antisemitic incidents, particularly since the start of the Israel-Hamas War in late 2023. The Community Security Trust, which protects the Jewish community in the UK, recorded 3,700 antisemitic incidents in 2025, a significant increase from the 1,662 reported in 2022.
“This was not only a criminal act of arson, but a targeted and deeply concerning incident affecting a vital emergency service serving the local Jewish community,” said Shomrim, a neighborhood watch organization.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the attack as a “deeply shocking antisemitic arson attack,” stating that “antisemitism has no place in our society.” Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally, head of the Anglican Church, echoed this sentiment, saying “such acts of violence, hatred and intimidation have no place in our society.” Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis called the incident a “sickening assault” and emphasized the need for unity in the face of growing threats to Jewish communities worldwide.
The incident in London is part of a broader pattern of attacks across Europe. In October 2025, a man drove his car into people outside a Manchester synagogue on Yom Kippur, resulting in two fatalities. Earlier this month, two men were charged with conducting hostile surveillance of the Jewish community in London on behalf of Iran. Similar attacks have been reported in Amsterdam, Liege, and Rotterdam, while authorities in France say they thwarted a suspected terror plot targeting Jewish sites.
Eyewitness Mark Reisner described hearing “a very loud explosion, you sort of felt it go through your guts” as one of the ambulances exploded. “It’s just left us all reeling with confusion and shock,” he told Sky News.
