Four Jewish volunteer ambulances set ablaze in antisemitic attack outside London synagogue

Four rescue ambulances belonging to the Jewish Hatzalah Northwest emergency service were set on fire overnight between Sunday and Monday outside a synagogue in Golders Green, northwest London. Given the area’s large Jewish population, authorities are treating the incident as a suspected antisemitic attack.

Security cameras showed that three masked individuals carried out the attack. Speaking to CNN, Shloimie Richman, chairman of Hatzalah Northwest, confirmed that four ambulances belonging to the organization were “deliberately targeted in an arson attack.”

🚨BREAKING: An IRGC terrorist group in the UK has claimed responsibility for the arson attack in Golders Green 🇬🇧

The group, known as Ashab Al-Yamin, has claimed the attack on the 4 Jewish ambulances this morning.

We have imported millions of people who hate each other, now we… pic.twitter.com/CcFsgqpCZs

— BRITAIN IS BROKEN 🇬🇧 (@BROKENBRITAIN0) March 23, 2026

Superintendent Sarah Jackson tried to calm the local Jewish community. 

“We know this incident will cause a great deal of community concern, and officers remain on scene to carry out urgent enquiries," Jackson said. "We believe we are looking for three suspects at this early stage."

At the time of this writing, no arrests had been made.

"We will be engaging with faith leaders and carrying out additional patrols in the local area as we continue our investigation, to provide reassurance and a highly visible presence," she added.

SITE Intelligence monitoring service has offered information that an Iranian-aligned militant group has claimed responsibility for the attack. SITE said the group is calling itself the Islamic Movement of the People of the Right Hand. They are also said to be responsible for the recent suspected arson fires in Belgium, Greece, and the Netherlands.

🚨NORTH LONDON ARSON SUSPECTS STILL AT LARGE

Three men remain at large after firebombing four ambulances in an anti-Semitic attack outside a synagogue.

This is blatant hatred forwards Jews. This is blatant anti-jewish terrorism on our streets.

Besides fake and dishonest… pic.twitter.com/dwdjp1EBqQ

— Sedd 🇬🇧 (@SeddSezz) March 23, 2026

Shomrim, a Jewish non-profit organization that operates neighborhood watch in the area, blasted the antisemitic attack on 𝕏, calling it a "deeply concerning incident affecting a vital emergency service serving the local Jewish community."

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the attack, which he described as "deeply shocking" and urged the public to provide any relevant information to assist the investigation.

"My thoughts are with the Jewish community who are waking up this morning to this horrific news," Starmer wrote on 𝕏. 

"Antisemitism has no place in our society," he added.

However, anti-Jewish and anti-Israel incidents have soared in the United Kingdom following the Hamas Oct. 7, 2023, massacre.

The Union of Jewish Students (UJS) recently published a report that unveiled the severe antisemitism that currently exists on British academic campuses.

The report showed that 20% of British students are reluctant or even unwilling to share an apartment with Jewish students. One anti-Semitic houseshare ad stated, “only one rule – no Zios in the flat,” using an anti-Jewish slur coined by former Ku Klux Klan Grand Wizard David Duke.

In addition, nearly half of the population said they believe the UK is no longer safe for Jews, according to a November 2025 poll released by the think tank, More in Common.

Last November, Stephen Silverman, director of Investigations and Enforcement at the Campaign Against Antisemitism, warned that British Jews were increasingly facing hostility, often linked to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

Silverman acknowledged that a growing number of British Jews are considering emigrating from the UK because of the rising antisemitism. Looking ahead, Silverman said he hopes “there is still a Jewish community in the UK in 10, 20 years’ time.” However, he stressed that this depends on the government taking strong action “with an iron fist rather than just talking about it.”

Many British Jews have criticized the Starmer government for not doing enough to combat antisemitism. Furthermore, some critics say the government’s hostility toward Israel during the war with Hamas, as well as London’s unilateral recognition of Palestine in 2025, have added fuel to the growing anti-Jewish sentiments.