Members of the Jewish community have been urged to “remain calm” after an arson attack on a business in north London, which police acknowledged had “similarities” with other recent attacks on a nearby synagogue and a Jewish ambulance charity.
The Metropolitan Police said that a man was seen to approach a row of shops in Hendon with a plastic bag containing three bottles of liquid on Friday evening. He tried to set the items in the bag alight, but when the bottles failed to fully ignite, he fled the scene, police said.
The alleged attack was claimed online by individuals purporting to be from the group Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiyah (HAYI), who said they were targeting Jewish education charity Jewish Futures.
Messages apparently from the group HAYI, and circulated on pro-Iranian Telegram channels, have claimed a number of attacks on sites around Europe, including last month’s arson attack on four Jewish ambulances in Golders Green, northwest London.
Counter-terrorism police are leading an investigation into the attack. Commander Helen Flanagan, of Counter Terrorism Policing London, said: “At this stage, last night’s arson is not being linked to other incidents in the northwest London area over the last week or last month’s arson in Golders Green, but counterterrorism officers are leading due to the similarities of each attack.
“I would ask that anyone with information or footage that could help our investigation gets in touch with police as soon as possible.”
The Metropolitan Police responded to an incident near the Israeli embassy in central London yesterday after a video was shared online overnight in which the HAYI group appeared to claim they were targeting the embassy with drones.
On Wednesday night, an “ignited container” was thrown into a Persian media organisation’s premises in Wembley in an attempted arson attack, the force said previously.
In a statement issued on Saturday morning, police said that minor damage was caused to the shop front in Hendon and no injuries were reported. Charity Jewish Futures, whose office is in Hendon, aims to connect a number of organisations that deliver different Jewish educational programmes.
A spokesperson for the Community Security Trust (CST) said: “We are aware of what appears to be another attempted arson, this time targeting a premises in north London previously used by the Jewish community.
“We urge people to remain calm and to report any suspicious activity, at any time of day or night, to police immediately on 999 and then to CST.”
The Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “This is yet another arson attack which appears to be targeting the Jewish community – it is the third in a month as we witness a worldwide pattern of attacks.
“It is unclear to what extent, if any, they are being coordinated. Police have only just reopened a central London park over a drone threat. Britain is under attack, and those responsible will not stop at targeting Jews.”
Roger Macmillan, former director of security at media company Iran International, said: “This is another despicable and cowardly attack claimed, once again, by Ashab al-Yamin, this time on Jewish Futures, an educational charity dedicated to young people.
“It is worth noting that Ashab al-Yamin recently declared they were moving to a second stage of their campaign, indicating harder targets, more significant operations.”
Mr Macmillan described HAYI as “a deniable and disposable brand, almost certainly being used to direct a gig economy of recruited young people, many of them teenagers”.
Detective Chief Superintendent Luke Williams, who leads policing in the area, said, “Since the incident in Golders Green last month, we have spoken extensively to community leaders. I understand and appreciate their concerns, and I know this latest incident will add to fears in the community.
“Local officers are working closely with Counter Terrorism Policing to support the investigation.
“The community can expect to see a heightened police presence in the area. Since last month’s attack in Golders Green, we have stepped up police patrols and vigilance to reassure communities and disrupt offenders.”
