London probes arson attacks on Jewish sites amid Iran proxy concerns

A series of arson incidents targeting Jewish sites in North London is now under counterterrorism investigation, as UK authorities examine whether the attacks could be linked to groups with alleged ties to Iran.

The Metropolitan Police confirmed on Sunday that Counter Terrorism Policing is leading the inquiry, following the latest overnight attack at the Kenton United Synagogue, which caused minor damage but no injuries. The incident is part of a cluster of recent cases that appear connected in method and targeting.

According to police, several of the attacks have been claimed by a group calling itself Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia, or Ashab al-Yamin. The group, which emerged online in March, has also claimed responsibility for incidents involving places of worship, businesses and financial institutions across Europe, as well as an attack on the Persian-language broadcaster Iran International in London.

Vicki Evans, deputy assistant commissioner at the Met, said investigators are working through multiple lines of inquiry, including the group’s possible external links. Authorities are aware of “public reporting that this group may have links to Iran”, she said, noting that police are examining whether this reflects a broader pattern.

Evans pointed to concerns around Iran’s “routine uses of criminal proxies”, adding that investigators are considering whether a model of “recruiting violence as a service” could be at play in London.

The incidents themselves follow a consistent pattern. In recent days, a bottle containing accelerant was thrown into the Finchley Reform Synagogue, Jewish-owned Hatzola ambulances were set on fire in Golders Green, and a man attempted to ignite a bag filled with flammable liquid outside the former premises of a Jewish charity in Hendon. The Kenton fire marks the latest in this sequence.

Community leaders say the pace of events is what stands out. The UK’s chief rabbi, Ephraim Mirvis, described the Kenton incident as the third such attack in under a week.

“A sustained campaign of violence and intimidation against the Jewish community of the UK is gathering momentum,” he said. “Thank God, no lives have been lost, but we cannot, and must not, wait for that to change before we understand just how dangerous this moment is for all of our society.”

The political response has been direct. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he was “appalled” by the attacks, framing them as a broader threat beyond any single community.

“This is abhorrent and it will not be tolerated. Attacks on our Jewish community are attacks on Britain,” he said.

For now, investigators are focusing on establishing whether the incidents are centrally coordinated or opportunistic acts carried out under a shared banner. The question of external links — particularly to Iranian networks — remains part of that wider assessment, but authorities have not drawn definitive conclusions.