Ambulance Explodes in Golders Green Arson Attack Treated as Antisemitic Hate Crime
Dramatic new footage has emerged showing the moment an ambulance exploded after being set alight in an arson attack in north London. The incident occurred in the early hours of Monday morning in Golders Green, with the vehicle erupting in a flash of orange and pink flames that lit up the night sky.
Emergency Response and Investigation
The video shows firefighters from Highfield Road battling the blaze with hoses, spraying water on the burning vehicle before stepping back as it suddenly explodes. Thick smoke billowed above the scene as emergency services worked to contain the fire. Scotland Yard has confirmed that the incident is being treated as an antisemitic hate crime, though not as terrorism, with four ambulances belonging to the Jewish Community Ambulance service targeted in the attack.
Damon Hoff, president of the nearby Machzike Hadath Synagogue, praised the rapid response of emergency services who arrived at the scene within minutes. He reported that while external damage to the synagogue building was substantial, including potential replacement of stained glass windows and basement issues, internal damage was surprisingly limited. The synagogue remained open on Tuesday, with Hoff noting, "We prayed this morning."
Eyewitness Accounts of the Explosion
Yared Santa Ana, a 44-year-old mother-of-two living opposite the attack site, described being awakened by her dog around 1:40 am on Monday. "I stared through the window because I heard some noises and I saw the fire, mostly in the ambulance," she told the Press Association. "I saw a person calling the fireman and so I was like, okay... I didn't go outside. I started to hear the explosion of the oxygen tanks."
Santa Ana said the explosion was "quite loud" and that "you could feel it in the structure" of her home. The commotion lasted approximately two hours, though she noted the situation eventually seemed "in control." She expressed initial concern about potential evacuation, particularly with two small children in the house.
The footage clearly captures the intensity of the explosion, with flames shooting into the air as firefighters worked to extinguish the blaze. The incident has raised serious concerns about targeted attacks on community services in the area.
