'We are scared, terrified': London Jews on edge after antisemitic arson attack
Key Points:
- Four volunteer ambulances operated by the Jewish organization Hatzola in Golders Green, London, were destroyed in an early morning arson attack, which police are treating as an antisemitic hate crime.
- The attack has heightened fears among the local Jewish community, with residents expressing concern over a rise in antisemitism and some considering relocation for safety reasons.
- The Iran-linked group Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiya (HAYI) claimed responsibility for the attack, which follows similar incidents in Belgium and the Netherlands, prompting a counterterrorism investigation.
- British leaders, including Prime Minister Keir Starmer and London Mayor Sadiq Khan, condemned the attack, pledged increased police patrols, and emphasized the need for community solidarity against antisemitism.
- The Israeli embassy criticized the UK for perceived inaction on antisemitism, while Israel's President Isaac Herzog expressed solidarity with the British Jewish community and vowed continued support in combating antisemitism.