Three people have been charged in connection with a suspected arson attack that saw four Jewish community ambulances destroyed in a fire in north London, police have confirmed. Two additional men, aged 45 and 47, who were also arrested during the investigation, have been released on bail pending further enquiries until late April.
Hamza Iqbal, 20, and Rehan Khan, 19, both from Leyton, along with a 17-year-old boy from Walthamstow, face charges of arson with recklessness as to whether life would be endangered.
The trio were arrested as part of an investigation led by Counter Terrorism Policing and are due to appear before Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Saturday.
The incident took place in the early hours of March 23 in Golders Green, an area known for its large Jewish population. The ambulances, operated by Hatzola Northwest, a volunteer-led emergency medical service, were deliberately set alight while parked outside a synagogue.
The blaze triggered explosions from oxygen cylinders stored inside the vehicles, causing damage to nearby buildings, including shattered windows at the synagogue.
Emergency services evacuated the surrounding area as firefighters battled to contain the flames. Despite the severity of the incident, no injuries were reported.
Commander Helen Flanagan, who leads Counter Terrorism Policing in London, described the attack as “appalling” and said officers had worked continuously since the incident to identify those responsible. She confirmed that the investigation had now reached a point where charges could be brought, with court proceedings set to follow.
While authorities have stated that the case is not currently being treated as terrorism, specialist counter-terror officers are leading the investigation due to what police described as the “circumstances of the incident”.
Hatzola Northwest, which has served the Golders Green community since 1979, provides free emergency medical assistance and patient transport. The destruction of the ambulances has raised concerns not only about targeted hostility but also about the potential impact on vital community healthcare services.
The attack has also reignited wider concerns about rising anti-Semitism in the UK. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood condemned the incident as an “abhorrent crime”, warning that hostility towards Jewish communities is once again becoming more visible and more dangerous.
Speaking at an event hosted by the Community Security Trust, she said that Jewish people in Britain are increasingly feeling compelled to conceal their identity and live with heightened fear in everyday situations, from sending children to school to attending medical appointments. She described the current moment as a failure to fully confront the scale of anti-Semitism, urging renewed efforts to challenge it.
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley has since indicated that security measures around Jewish communities will be strengthened. This includes an increased police presence and the deployment of specialist undercover officers aimed at preventing further threats, including potential attacks involving drones.
