Jewish Community in North London Left 'Completely Shocked' After Antisemitic Arson Attack
The Jewish community in Golders Green, north London, has been left feeling "completely shocked" and "scared" following a disturbing antisemitic hate crime. In the early hours of Monday morning, four ambulances belonging to the volunteer medical service Hatzola were deliberately set alight outside a synagogue on Highfield Road.
CCTV footage captured three individuals igniting the vehicles at approximately 1.45am. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, but the explosions from gas canisters onboard the ambulances awoke local residents to a scene of destruction.
Community Leaders Condemn 'Sickening' Targeting of Volunteer Service
Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis issued a strong statement condemning the attack, describing the targeting of Hatzola's volunteer ambulance corps as "particularly sickening." He emphasized that the service is dedicated to protecting life for all, regardless of faith, making the assault an attack on shared societal values.
Damon Hoff, president of the nearby Machzike Hadath Synagogue, who was awoken by the blasts, called the incident an "attack on anything decent." He expressed profound vulnerability, stating, "This is the deepest heart of the Jewish community, and it's an unbelievable vulnerability because it's your way of life and it's an attack on everything that you stand for." The synagogue itself suffered damage, including to historical stained glass windows and smoke damage to the roof.
Residents Question Safety and Future in the UK
The attack has sparked deep concerns within the Jewish community about their safety and place in British society. Dov Forman, 22, whose great-grandmother was Holocaust survivor Lily Ebert, noted she had lived directly opposite the attack site. He said she would have been "completely devastated" as it shattered her belief that the UK was a safe haven for her family.
Forman added that many are now questioning if the UK remains a "safe place to be a visible Jew," with some of his friends concluding it no longer is. He pointed to rising antisemitism, blaming unchecked hatred in society and the failure of successive governments to address its ideological roots.
Local resident Gedale Weinberg, 56, described the act as "strategic, heinous, spiteful, pathetic, disgusting." He emphasized that Hatzola ambulances serve everyone in the community, regardless of religion, providing free emergency transport. Having lived in Golders Green since 1969, Weinberg said the area has changed "dramatically for the worse" and that he no longer feels safe in London. He is running as a Reform UK local councillor in the upcoming May elections, stating, "If I wouldn’t be running for office, I’d pack up and leave."
Political and Community Response
Peter Zinkin, the Conservative councillor for Golders Green, expressed "deep upset" and sadness, noting that such attacks are sadly not surprising given recent years. He held both media and government accountable for what he sees as a validation of antisemitism in the country.
Shomrim, a Jewish community safety patrol group, confirmed the vehicles belonged to Hatzola, a charity established in 1979 that provides free medical transportation and emergency response in north London. Despite the destruction, the service remains fully operational.
The Metropolitan Police are investigating the incident and have appealed for information, with no arrests made yet. The attack underscores a broader pattern of increasing antisemitic violence, prompting calls for unity and resolve against hatred and intimidation.
