British counterterror police are investigating a wave of arson attacks targeting Jewish sites in London, as a chief rabbi warns of escalating violence. Specialized officers are probing fires at synagogues and Jewish-linked facilities, with the latest incident causing minor damage to a north London synagogue on Saturday night. Investigators are examining claims by a group calling itself Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia, which has taken responsibility for several attacks.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans stated that investigators are considering whether Iran's tactic of using criminal proxies is being employed in London. The group has also claimed responsibility for synagogue attacks in Belgium and the Netherlands. Additional officers have been deployed to northwest London following recent incidents, including the torching of four Jewish charity ambulances.
Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis warned of a "sustained campaign of violence and intimidation" against the UK's Jewish community. Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the attacks as "abhorrent." The threat level heightened after the group released a video claiming it would target Israel's embassy with drones. British officials have long warned of Iran using criminal networks in Europe, with MI5 disrupting over 20 lethal plots in the past year. Police have issued a stern warning to those involved, stating that long prison sentences await those responsible.