A potentially deadly arson attack was narrowly averted early Tuesday when a suspect allegedly set a fire inside a residential building housing young Jewish families in London’s Golders Green neighborhood before fleeing the scene.

According to a statement issued by Shomrim, residents were jolted awake in the early morning hours by the sound of a fire alarm echoing throughout the apartment complex.

Witnesses reported that an individual intentionally ignited a fire in a shared stairwell within the building. After being spotted and challenged by residents, the suspect reportedly ran from the area before authorities arrived.

A quick-thinking resident acted immediately upon discovering the flames and succeeded in putting out the fire before it could spread through the building. Despite the danger, no injuries were reported.

Shomrim volunteers arrived promptly and began assisting with the response. During their investigation, they recovered items believed to have been left behind by the suspect, evidence that may prove valuable to law enforcement. Volunteers are also working alongside police as officers review surveillance footage from nearby security cameras and CCTV systems.

Investigators have not yet determined a motive, and authorities continue to piece together exactly what occurred. The incident, however, comes during a period of growing concern within Britain’s Jewish community following a series of attacks and security incidents targeting Jewish institutions and individuals.

Police and Shomrim are asking members of the public who may have witnessed suspicious activity or who possess dashcam or surveillance footage from the area to contact investigators as soon as possible.

The attempted arson follows another disturbing incident in Golders Green less than a month ago, when two Orthodox Jewish men were stabbed.

That attack led British authorities to elevate the country’s terrorism threat level from “substantial” to “severe,” marking the first such increase in more than four years.

In a separate incident just weeks earlier, a Jewish resident was reportedly assaulted in Golders Green after being heard speaking Hebrew.

The neighborhood was also shaken in late March when four emergency vehicles belonging to Hatzolah were deliberately set ablaze. Authorities have arrested nine suspects in connection with that case as the investigation continues.

{Matzav.com}