Suspected arson attack on Jewish volunteer ambulances in North London

In UK's capital, four ambulances belonging to a Jewish community organisation in north London were set ablaze, police said on Monday, adding that the incident was being treated as an antisemitic hate crime.

London Fire Brigade said six fire engines and around 40 firefighters were called out to Highfield Court in Golders Green at 1.40am GMT.

The ambulances belonged to Hatzola, a Jewish not-for-profit volunteer organisation that responds to medical emergencies.

"Officers remain on scene and the arson attack is being treated as an antisemitic hate crime," said a Metropolitan Police statement.

The Met Police added that "nearby houses have been evacuated as a precaution and road closures remain in place. No injuries have been reported and all the fires have been put out."

They confirmed there have not been any arrests and that they will be engaging with faith leaders. Superintendent Sarah Jackson, who leads policing in the local area, said they are carrying out additional patrols to reassure the community.

The Fire Brigade said that multiple cylinders on the vehicles had exploded and caused windows to break in an adjacent block of flats. No injuries are reported.

It added in a statement that they received the first of 56 calls alerting them to the fire at 01:40 and had mobilised fire crews from Hendon, West Hampstead, Mill Hill, Willesden and Kentish Town fire stations. It added that the fire was under control at 03:06.

Local councillor Dean Cohen told Jewish News that the fact the ambulances were set on fire in the "car park of a synagogue is particularly chilling and will send shockwaves through our community at a time of already heightened fears over antisemitism in the UK". He continued: "It's beyond time for the authorities to wake and do more to tackle this hate running riot."

Health Secretary Wes Streeting called the attack "sickening" in a social media post:

This is a sickening attack on Jewish ambulances.

Thank goodness there appear to be no injuries.

Anyone with information should come forward to the Police.

We must stand together against antisemitic hatred. https://t.co/vAM7Z7WeJB — Wes Streeting (@wesstreeting) March 23, 2026

Attacks against Jews and Jewish targets have risen worldwide since the Hamas attacks that triggered the Gaza war.

Since the conflict, Britain has recorded significantly higher levels of antisemitic hate.

The most severe antisemitic incident in Britain last year was the Manchester attack that killed two Jewish worshippers during Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.

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London anti-Semitism UK Breaking News Jewish community ambulance Fire arson attack