Four men have pleaded guilty to carrying out a devastating arson attack that destroyed four ambulances operated by Hatzola, the Jewish volunteer emergency service serving communities across north London.

Hamza Iqbal, 20, Rehan Khan, 19, Judex Atshatshi, 18, and Saif Ali, 18, entered their guilty pleas at London’s Old Bailey. Each admitted destroying or damaging property by arson while being reckless as to whether lives would be endangered.

The attack unfolded at approximately 1:35 a.m. on March 23, when the fully equipped emergency vehicles were set ablaze while parked near the Machzike Hadath Synagogue in Golders Green, an area with a large Orthodox Jewish population.

Three members of the group allegedly ignited the ambulances while a fourth waited nearby in a blue Toyota Avensis used to travel from east London. The resulting inferno caused oxygen and gas cylinders inside the emergency vehicles to explode, damaging nearby apartments and the synagogue.

Although no injuries were reported, the destruction caused an estimated £1 million, approximately $1.35 million, in losses. Beyond the financial damage, the attack temporarily wiped out vital ambulances used by Jewish volunteers to provide lifesaving care to residents of every background.

Investigators reportedly discovered searches on Iqbal’s phone asking how much ambulances cost and how long police take to investigate arson attacks, evidence suggesting the assault had been planned in advance.

Prosecutors described the incident as a deliberate attack against London’s Jewish community. At sentencing, they intend to argue that the crime had a “terrorist connection.” The four defendants dispute that designation.

An alleged Iran-aligned group calling itself Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiyya claimed responsibility online. British counterterrorism officers have investigated whether Iranian proxies were involved in the ambulance fire and several subsequent attacks against Jewish and Iranian opposition targets. However, a direct connection between the four convicted men and Iran has not been established in court. Iran’s embassy has denied involvement.

The Community Security Trust called the incident an appalling antisemitic attack against an organization whose volunteers provide emergency assistance throughout north London, regardless of a patient’s religion or background.

All four men have been remanded in custody and are expected to be sentenced in spring 2027.

A fifth defendant, 18-year-old Subhan Ahmed, pleaded not guilty to assisting an offender in connection with the alleged disposal of the vehicle used during the attack. He was released on bail under strict conditions and is expected to stand trial in January 2027.

Photo: Metropolitan Police/PA. Clockwise from top left: Rehan Khan, Saif Ali, Judex Atshatshi and Hamza Iqbal.