A large fire broke out at Kosher Kingdom, a Jewish supermarket in London's Golders Green neighborhood, early Wednesday morning. Around 100 firefighters and 15 fire engines responded to the blaze, which started in the warehouse attached to the store. The London Fire Brigade (LFB) received 33 calls about the fire, with the first reported at 6:47 AM. The cause remains unknown, and no injuries have been reported.
Firefighters and police are on the scene, with authorities urging residents to avoid the area due to heavy smoke. The fire has caused significant damage, including a partially collapsed roof. Video footage showed emergency services removing gas canisters from the premises.
The incident comes amid heightened tensions in the area following a series of arson attacks on synagogues and community sites in recent months. In late April, two Jewish men were stabbed in a terror attack that prompted the UK to raise its national threat level to "severe." A little-known Iran-linked group, Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiya (HAYI), has claimed responsibility for many of the incidents.
In response, London's Metropolitan Police established a new community protection team with 100 additional officers to safeguard the Jewish community. Police are assisting firefighters with road closures and evacuations.
Kosher Kingdom, which claims to be the largest kosher shop in Europe, previously suffered a fire in 2008 that forced it to close for months. The LFB has not yet determined the cause of Wednesday's blaze.