Ambulances belonging to the Hatzola emergency medical organization were set ablaze near a synagogue in London’s Golders Green, prompting a hate crime investigation.
Ambulances Targeted, Explosions Reported
The ambulances belonged to Hatzola, a non-profit organization providing emergency medical assistance. Authorities are investigating the incident.
Oxygen tanks in the ambulances caused explosions, shattering windows in nearby residential buildings.
Suspects Identified on Surveillance Footage
Surveillance footage shows three masked individuals dousing the vehicles with gasoline and setting them on fire. The incident occurred in Golders Green, an area with a large Jewish community.
Community Shock and Calls for Action
Local councilor Dean Cohen stated the attack on life-saving vehicles parked at a synagogue is “particularly horrifying” and will shock the community, especially given heightened concerns about antisemitism in the UK.
Cohen urged authorities to take greater action to address the growing hatred.
Possible Foreign Involvement Investigated Elsewhere
Czech authorities are investigating four scenarios related to a recent factory fire, including the possibility of foreign sabotage.
“Obvious Similarity” to Other Attacks
Since the October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel and the subsequent war in Gaza, there has been a global increase in attacks targeting Jews and Jewish institutions.
Mark Gardner, director general of the Community Security Trust, noted an “obvious similarity” to recent antisemitic arson attacks in Liege, Rotterdam, and Amsterdam.
Manchester Attack Remains the Most Serious Incident
The most serious antisemitic incident in the UK in 2025 was a terrorist attack in Manchester. A British citizen of Syrian origin drove into pedestrians near a local synagogue on Yom Kippur and then attacked worshippers with a knife.
Three people were killed, and the attacker was shot dead by police. The attacker had previously pledged allegiance to the Islamic State.
