LONDON (VINnews) – A 48-year-old man became the ninth person arrested in connection with the early-morning arson attack that destroyed four Hatzolah ambulances in Golders Green, counter-terrorism police said Friday.

The suspect was taken into custody Thursday on Leytonstone High Road, Counter Terrorism Policing London announced. The ambulances were set ablaze in the early hours of March 23.

Commander Helen Flanagan, head of CTP London, said the attack caused significant concern in the community and that investigators remain focused on holding all responsible parties accountable.

“The attack on the Hatzolah ambulances caused considerable community concern and we have been working continuously to investigate this incident,” Flanagan said in a statement. “Our aim is to arrest and charge all those responsible for the arson attacks and other incidents targeted at Jewish, Israeli and Iranian sites in recent weeks.”

Counter-terrorism officers are also coordinating with Metropolitan Police colleagues to provide protective security to affected organizations, venues and businesses, she added.

The announcement comes as Scotland Yard unveiled a new specialist Community Protection Team of about 100 officers dedicated to safeguarding London’s Jewish communities amid elevated hate crime and terror threats.

The unit combines neighborhood policing with counter-terrorism expertise for a more sustained, intelligence-led response rather than relying on short-term officer surges. It will focus initially on Jewish areas but is designed as a model that could expand to other communities facing heightened risks.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley welcomed the initiative.

“The creation of a new Community Protection Team of around 100 officers is an important step in strengthening our response to the sustained threats Jewish communities are facing,” Rowley said. “It brings together experienced local officers who know their communities, supported by specialist capabilities, to provide more visible, consistent and intelligence-led protection.”

Rowley noted that government funding of £18 million has supported additional patrols but called for longer-term investment to maintain the enhanced security.

Since the Hatzolah attack and related incidents, authorities have arrested 31 people as part of connected counter-terrorism investigations. Eight have been charged, including a 17-year-old boy who pleaded guilty to arson in a separate attack on a Kenton synagogue. A 19-year-old man arrested May 7 in Portsmouth on suspicion of attempted arson was bailed until July.

Police urged the public to report suspicious behavior, especially with the U.K. terror threat level now at “severe.”

“If you have concerns about someone behaving suspiciously, please report it to us,” Flanagan said. “Your information could help us save lives.”