Two British men arrested in connection with the arson attack on four Jewish community ambulances in Golders Green, north-west London, have been released on bail. The men, aged 47 and 45, were detained by counter-terrorism detectives on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life. Police conducted searches at four addresses in north-west and central London as part of the ongoing investigation.
The ambulances, operated by Hatzola, a volunteer-led emergency service, were set ablaze at approximately 1:35 a.m. on Monday. Police described the incident as an antisemitic attack and noted that three masked or hooded individuals were seen setting the fires. The vehicles were severely damaged, and the attack has sparked widespread condemnation.
Meanwhile, Dr. Bharat Pankhania, the Liberal Democrat mayor of Bath, apologized for sharing social media posts that questioned the legitimacy of the arson attack. He deleted the posts and issued a statement expressing regret, stating that the content did not align with his values. The incident has drawn attention to rising concerns about antisemitism and hate crimes in the UK.
Commander Helen Flanagan of Counter Terrorism Policing London emphasized that the investigation remains active, with strict bail conditions imposed on the released suspects. She urged the public, particularly the local Jewish community, to come forward with any information that could aid the inquiry.