Four new ambulances have been brought in to replace emergency vehicles destroyed in a suspected antisemitic arson attack targeting a Jewish volunteer medical organization in north London, as authorities continue to investigate possible international links behind the incident.

The vehicles, operated by Hatzola, were deliberately set on fire in Golders Green during the early hours of Monday morning, destroying four ambulances and prompting an inquiry led by the Metropolitan Police’s counter-terrorism command.

No suspects have been taken into custody so far. However, police indicated they are examining the potential involvement of an Islamist organization believed to have ties to Iran, which has claimed responsibility for similar attacks elsewhere in Europe.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting announced that the government will fund the replacement ambulances, which are currently being provided on a temporary basis until permanent units are secured.

“The Jewish community should not bear the cost of this hatred,” Streeting said.
“This moment demands more than practical support. The Jewish community will not stand alone – the government and this entire country stand with them.
“The answer cannot simply be higher walls, thicker doors, more CCTV. We also have to deal with this hatred at its source. We have to confront and beat the evil ideas that are permeating in our society.”

Investigators believe three individuals were involved in carrying out the attack, which authorities have classified as a hate crime motivated by antisemitism. Although it has not officially been labeled a terrorist act, the Met confirmed that counter-terror officers are leading the case due to the nature of the incident and the expertise required.

Police have launched an online portal asking the public to submit any relevant video footage or information that could assist in identifying those responsible.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley announced enhanced security measures across London, including the deployment of 264 additional officers to safeguard Jewish communities, along with “additional highly visible firearms patrols”.

By Tuesday morning, police had removed the security cordon at the site, leaving behind the charred remains of the destroyed ambulances.

Nearby, at the Machzike Hadath Synagogue, damage from the blaze was evident. Medical equipment inside the burned vehicles was left ruined, shattered glass covered the ground, and the synagogue’s stained glass windows were cracked. Windows in a neighboring residential building, reaching as high as the fourth floor, had also been blown out and boarded up, apparently due to exploding oxygen tanks.

Damon Hoff, president of the synagogue, commended emergency responders for their swift action and noted that most of the damage was limited to the building’s exterior.

“Clearly this was planned,” Hoff told the BBC.
“This wasn’t just something that happened.
“All indications are, from what we’ve been told, is there was definitely surveillance and all indications are that we need to be aware that there is surveillance on our communities and infrastructure.”

Hoff also said the synagogue sustained roof damage in addition to the shattered stained glass.

Earlier in the day, Met Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor told BBC Radio 4’s Today program that incidents of this nature have a significant emotional and psychological effect on Jewish communities.

He noted that plots linked to Iran and disrupted in the UK since October 2024 have included “everything from assassination, to kidnap, to espionage”.

Taylor added that investigators are exploring whether the latest attack was supported by Iran, though determining the motive remains a key focus of the inquiry.

An Iran-aligned organization, Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiya — also known as The Islamic Movement of the People of the Right Hand — claimed responsibility for the attack on its Telegram channel, though officials have not verified the claim.

The same group has also taken credit for other recent incidents across Europe, including an attack on a synagogue in Liege, Belgium, as well as explosions targeting a synagogue in Rotterdam and a Jewish school in Amsterdam.

Recalling the moments after the fire broke out, Hoff said he and fellow congregants rushed to the synagogue out of concern for the safety of the Torah scrolls, the most sacred items housed in the building.

He described it as “a miracle” that the interior of the synagogue was largely spared, and confirmed that prayers resumed there on Tuesday.

As the replacement ambulances arrived in Golders Green, the London Ambulance Service expressed its solidarity with Hatzola, stating that it stood “shoulder to shoulder” with the organization.

Hatzola, a volunteer-run emergency service, has been operating in Golders Green since 1979, serving a large Jewish population in the area. The neighborhood is home to dozens of synagogues, and nearly half of its residents identify as Jewish, according to official data.

The organization, whose name means “rescue” in Hebrew, provides free emergency medical care and transportation to hospitals through a network of trained volunteer medics.

In addition to north London, Hatzola operates in Manchester, Gateshead, Canvey Island, and Hertfordshire, working alongside public emergency services to assist people of all backgrounds.

In the wake of the attack, fundraising efforts have generated more than £1.3 million across several GoFundMe campaigns to support the organization.

Hatzola chairman Shloimie Richman said the funds raised will be used to establish a new, more secure headquarters.

Following the arrival of the replacement ambulances, Richman issued a statement describing Monday as the most difficult day in the organization’s history.

He said: “The irony is here that you have vehicles that are used for life-saving work and transfer to hospital, and those are being targeted in an arson attack.
“It just kind of makes you feel you know, what kind of world are we living in currently?”