London: The Metropolitan Police said on Sunday that counter-terror police are investigating whether the series of arson attacks against the Jewish community in north London have been carried out by Iranian proxies.
A synagogue in Harrow was “firebombed” overnight in the latest incident in a “terrifying” spate of recent arson attacks against Jewish sites in the capital.
The Met said the incidents were “similar in nature” and said Iranian proxy group Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia, the Islamic Movement of the Companions of the Right, have claimed responsibility for most of the attacks online.
Officers are following a line of inquiry to establish if the group is paying thugs for hire to carry out the attacks on its behalf on British soil.
The same group has recently claimed attacks across Europe, including at Jewish and Israeli premises, Ms Evans said. Metropolitan Police deputy assistant commissioner Vicki Evans said: “We are aware of public reporting that suggests this group may have links to Iran.
“As you would expect, we will continue to explore that question as our investigation evolves.
“I’ve spoken previously about the Iranian regime’s use of criminal proxies, and we are considering whether this tactic is being used here in London.”
She went on: “I want to be clear, irrespective of the motivation of this group, to those who are facilitating this activity on their behalf and those who are committing the acts, we will not tolerate activity that seeks to intimidate and harm our communities, you will not succeed in creating division and hate.
“As the conflict in the Middle East continues to evolve, counter-terrorism policing and our partners remain alive to the threat of Iranian hostile activity in the UK.
“We are aware of public reporting that suggests this group may have links to Iran – as you would expect we will continue to explore that question as our investigation evolves.”
The deputy commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Matt Jukes said “we are facing a concerted campaign which is targeting Londoners and specifically targeting Britain’s Jewish community”.
“London is better than this, we should be standing alongside our neighbours”, he added. “We need a response across the whole of society – across all faiths, across all politics, across charities, across businesses – we need people to speak out against extremism”.
In the latest attack police were called to Kenton United Synagogue in Shaftesbury Avenue, Harrow, at around midnight after a bottle containing an accelerant was thrown through a window.
It caused smoke damage, but there were no injuries and no significant structural damage.
The Chief Rabbi called the attack “cowardly” and said “a sustained campaign of violence and intimidation against the Jewish community of the UK is gathering momentum”.
It follows follows similar recent incidents targeting the Jewish community in northwest London, all that are being investigated by Counter Terror Policing London.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said he was “appalled” by the spate of attacks.
Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis called it “a cowardly arson attack” and said “a sustained campaign of violence and intimidation against the Jewish community of the UK is gathering momentum”.
His statement shared on X said: “This sustained attack on our community’s ability to worship and live in safety is an attack on the values that bind us all together.”
