Four Jewish Volunteer Ambulances Set Ablaze in Suspected Antisemitic Arson Attack in North London

Four ambulances belonging to a Jewish volunteer emergency medical service were set on fire in a suspected antisemitic arson attack in Golders Green, a north London neighborhood with a significant Jewish population. The incident occurred early Monday morning, prompting a large emergency response from the London Fire Brigade and police. Authorities are currently investigating the cause of the fire and treating the case as a hate crime.

The ambulances, operated by Hatzola Northwest, a nonprofit organization providing free emergency medical services in North London since 1979, were severely damaged. The London Fire Brigade reported that multiple gas cylinders on the vehicles exploded during the blaze, causing windows to shatter in a nearby block of flats. Despite the severity of the fire, no injuries were reported, and the fire was brought under control by around 3 a.m. local time. Nearby homes were evacuated as a precautionary measure.

Metropolitan Police Superintendent Sarah Jackson confirmed that officers are reviewing CCTV footage and searching for three suspects in connection with the attack, though no arrests have been made so far. She emphasized the ongoing efforts to engage with local faith leaders and increase patrols in the area to provide reassurance to the community. Eyewitnesses described hearing loud explosions and seeing large flames and thick smoke rising from the ambulances.

The attack has drawn condemnation from various groups and officials. Shomrim, a neighborhood watch organization, called the incident a “targeted and deeply concerning” criminal act affecting a vital emergency service for the Jewish community. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the event as a “deeply shocking antisemitic arson attack,” underscoring that antisemitism has no place in society. The incident comes amid a sharp rise in antisemitic incidents across the UK since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war in late 2023. The Community Security Trust, which monitors antisemitic activity, recorded 3,700 incidents in 2025, more than double the 1,662 incidents reported in 2022. In October 2025, a terrorist attack at a Manchester synagogue resulted in two deaths and multiple injuries, highlighting ongoing security concerns for the Jewish community in Britain.