An arson attack on a business in Hendon, north-west London, is being treated as an anti-Semitic hate crime and counter-terrorism officers are leading the investigation due to similarities to recent incidents in the area.The Metropolitan Police said a man was seen approaching a row of shops on Friday night carrying a plastic bag containing three bottles of liquid, the BBC reported.He placed the bag near the door and tried to light it, but the bottle failed to catch fire completely and he ran away.The attack caused minor damage and left scorch marks around the entrance, but no injuries were reported. The targeted sites have previously been linked to Jewish community uses, including links to educational charities.Police have stepped up patrols in the area, including armed officers and officers trained to identify suspicious activity. Additional stop and search powers have also been introduced in the Barnet area to reassure residents and prevent further incidents.
A series of similar attacks under the scanner
Authorities are also investigating other recent attempted arson attacks, including those against Finchley Synagogue and a Farsi-language media outlet in Wembley.Officials said they were keeping an open mind on whether the cases were related, although “online claims of responsibility” and similar methods have prompted counterterrorism units to take charge of the investigation.Community groups urged caution but called for calm. The Community Safety Trust (CST), which provides security support to the Jewish community, said it was working closely with police and advised people to report suspicious activity immediately.
Online claims and possible organizational models
Investigators are examining claims spread on pro-Iranian social media channels by a group calling itself Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiyah (HAYI), which is said to be responsible for multiple incidents in Europe.Security experts say the group likely operates as a loosely organized network that may recruit individuals to carry out attacks, rather than as a traditional structured organization.However, police have not formally confirmed any direct link between the group and the Hendon attack.
Earlier attacks on Jewish ambulances
The latest incident follows a major arson attack last month in Golders Green, another area of ​​north London with a large Jewish population. In the early morning of March 23, four ambulances belonging to the Jewish Voluntary Emergency Service were set on fire.Oxygen and gas tanks inside the vehicle caused an explosion that damaged nearby properties and forced some residents to evacuate.Three suspects, aged 20, 19 and 17, were later arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit arson with intent to endanger life. Authorities said the investigation is still under the leadership of anti-terrorism police, but the case has not yet been officially classified as a terrorism case.
