Iran-Tied Islamists Claim Jewish Ambulance Service Attack As Their Responsibility: REPORT
An Iran-linked militant group claimed responsibility for an arson attack on Jewish ambulances in London’s Golders Green, targeting a synagogue site but damaging Hatzola vehicles instead. Police initially treated it as an antisemitic hate crime rather than terrorism, with counter-terrorism units leading the probe and residents evacuated after oxygen canisters detonated; no injuries were reported. The incident fits a broader pattern of antisemitic attacks across Europe, with the group also linking to assaults on other Jewish sites, raising questions about its legitimacy and possible Iranian involvement. Officials pledged action and support, including funding for replacement vehicles, while investigators assess motives and connections. The case highlights ongoing security concerns for Jewish communities amid regional tensions since 2023.
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On March 23, 2026, in London’s Golders Green, officers responded to a fire at Highfield Road after the London Fire Brigade reported an arson; three hooded figures were seen on security cameras pouring a flammable substance on ambulances parked at the synagogue site.
Oxygen canisters aboard the ambulances detonated, prompting the evacuation of 34 nearby residents; there were no reported injuries.
A Iran-linked group, Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiyya, claimed via networks tied to Tehran’s Axis of Resistance that the attack targeted the Machzike Hadath synagogue, though the damage fell on Hatzola ambulances.
Counter-terrorism officers led the investigation, but authorities had not classified it as terrorism, instead labeling it an antisemitic hate crime at the time of reporting.
The group has claimed similar attacks, including a synagogue bombing in Liege, Belgium (March 9), and attacks on Rotterdam and Amsterdam Jewish sites, with Dutch prosecutors noting the claims as part of ongoing investigations.
Analysts and agencies questioned the group’s legitimacy, with some describing it as potentially a shell for Iranian hybrid warfare to avoid direct accountability for actions.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Health Minister Wes Streeting condemned the act and pledged government support, including funding for replacement ambulance vehicles.