Police in London are hunting two masked suspects on Wednesday behind an attempted arson of a synagogue that is being treated as an “anti-Semitic hate crime”.
Britain’s Metropolitan Police said the individuals, wearing “dark clothing and balaclavas”, approached the synagogue in the Finchley area shortly after midnight on Wednesday and “threw two bottles, believed to contain petrol, and a brick at the building”.
“We are aware of the significant concern this incident will cause in the community, particularly in the wake of the arson at Golders Green last month,” Detective Chief Inspector Luke Williams said. “We are working with the affected synagogue and continuing to meet with community leaders.”
“I would like to reassure the community that we take these types of incidents extremely seriously and detectives are working urgently to identify the suspects,” he added.
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A police officer investigates an attempted arson at the Finchley Reform Synagogue in London on April 15, 2026. The Metropolitan Police are searching for two suspects after bottles believed to contain petrol were thrown at the building. (Toby Shepheard/AFP/Getty Images)
Police said neither bottle ignited and no damage or injuries were reported.
British prosecutors charged three suspects – aged 17, 19 and 20 – earlier this month over alleged arson attack targeting Jewish community ambulances in North London.
The March 23 incident took place at around 1.45am in the Golders Green area, where four ambulances from a volunteer emergency service serving the Jewish community were transported. deliberately set on fire in the parking lot of a synagogue.
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A forensic police officer works during an investigation into an attempted arson at the Finchley Reform Synagogue in north London on April 15, 2026. (Toby Shepheard/AFP/Getty Images)
In the latest incident, the Metropolitan Police said no arrests had been made as of Wednesday afternoon local time.
“If you have any CCTV footage, dashcam footage or information that could assist officers, please contact police,” Williams said.
Police are seen outside a synagogue in London on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, following an attempted arson. (Toby Shepheard/AFP/Getty Images)
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“Residents can expect an increased police presence in the area in the coming days. We have deployed additional officers and would urge anyone with concerns to speak to them,” he added.
