Suspected Anti-Semitic Attack: Jewish Volunteer Ambulances Torched Outside London Synagogue

Early Monday, several ambulances belonging to the Jewish volunteer rescue group Hatzola Northwest were set alight outside a synagogue in Golders Green, northwest London.

Incident and footage

Security camera footage shared with Filmogaz.com shows three masked people approaching an ambulance. The video timestamp reads 1:36 a.m., and the location marked matches the Machzikei Hadath synagogue.

Hatzola Northwest chairman Shloimie Richman said four of the organisation’s ambulances were deliberately attacked. He described the incident as a targeted arson against the service.

Local reaction

Resident Charlie Richards reported hearing multiple explosions after 2 a.m. She filmed a large orange blast and smoke rising into the sky.

Community leaders expressed alarm that the assault may be a suspected anti-Semitic attack. They flagged concerns for the wider Jewish community in the area.

Context and official response

Golders Green is known for its dense network of synagogues, Jewish schools, and kosher businesses. The London borough of Barnet had the highest proportion of Jewish residents in a metropolitan area in England, according to the 2021 census.

London Fire Brigade confirmed it was responding to an incident in Golders Green. A spokesperson said the service could not yet confirm the cause, or whether explosions had occurred.

Ongoing coverage

Authorities are investigating the circumstances and motive behind the arson. The story remains developing and will be updated as new information becomes available.

Ross Adkin and Todd Symons contributed reporting.