Police in the United Kingdom on Wednesday arrested two men allegedly behind what Prime Minister Keir Starmer described as an “anti-Semitic arson” as investigators investigate a possible link with Iran.
The Metropolitan Police said the men, aged 45 and 47, were being held at addresses in north-west and central London on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life and their property was being searched. On Monday, “four ambulances from Hatzola, a volunteer-run ambulance service operating in the Golders Green area of north London, were set on fire,” police said.
‘The anti-Semitic arson in Golders Green is horrific’ said Starmer on X in response to the incident.
A video circulating online claims to show Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiyya, an Iran-linked group that has claimed responsibility for recent attacks on Jewish sites in Belgium and the Netherlands, taking credit for the attack in London, according to the Jewish Chronicle.
British counter-terrorism police investigate anti-Semitic arson attack as Iran-linked group claims responsibility
Members of the Jewish community view the scene of an anti-Semitic arson attack in the Golders Green area of north London on Tuesday, March 24, 2026. (Henry Nicholls/AFP via Getty Images)
“We are aware of an online claim from a group taking responsibility for this attack,” Metropolitan Police Chief Inspector Luke Williams said earlier. “Establishing the authenticity and accuracy of this claim will be a priority… but it is not something we can confirm at this time.”
Commander Helen Flanagan, head of Counterterrorism Policing London, which the Metropolitan Police said is leading the investigation, said on Wednesday: “We have been working around the clock since this horrific attack took place and this has led to these arrests being made this morning.”
BELGIUM DEploys MILITARY TO PROTECT JEWISH LOCATIONS AFTER ANTI-SEMITIC SYNAGOGUE EXPLOSION
Firefighters are tackling a blaze on Highfield Road in the Golders Green area of London, following an apparent arson on four Jewish Community Ambulance Service ambulances. (PA/PA Images via Getty Images)
“This appears to be a significant breakthrough in the investigation, but we are also aware that CCTV footage of the incident suggests at least three people were involved,” she added. “We fully recognize that the local community will still have concerns, and our investigation remains active, and we will continue to work to identify and seek to arrest all those who may have been involved.”
“We know that community concerns remain growing, and I would like to reassure the community that an enhanced, tailored policing plan and activity, focused primarily on vulnerable areas across London, will continue in the coming days and weeks,” Williams said on Wednesday.
Charred remains of ambulances belonging to Hatzola, a Jewish community organisation, which were set on fire in an incident that police say is being treated as an anti-Semitic hate crime, in north-west London, on Monday, March 23, 2026. (Hannah McKay/TPX Images of the Day/Reuters)
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“This will include specialist officers and capabilities deployed alongside local officers to help protect certain locations and will also involve highly visible armed police patrols to act as a deterrent to anyone wishing to harm our communities,” he continued. “I must emphasize that this is a precautionary measure and not in response to any specific threat. We continue to work with our counter-terrorism colleagues to support their investigations.”
