British police have launched an investigation into a suspected antisemitic hate crime after four ambulances belonging to a Jewish charity were set on fire early Monday morning in north London.
The overnight attack occurred in Golders Green, a neighborhood known for its large Jewish population. Authorities said no injuries were reported, but the blaze destroyed the emergency vehicles and shattered windows in nearby homes.
According to the Metropolitan Police, officers responded to reports of a fire involving ambulances belonging to Hatzola Northwest, a volunteer emergency medical service that supports the local Jewish community.
The London Fire Brigade confirmed that four ambulances were severely damaged in the attack. Multiple gas cylinders inside the vehicles exploded during the blaze, causing significant damage to nearby buildings and prompting the evacuation of surrounding homes as a precaution.
Security camera footage circulating online appears to show three hooded individuals dressed in black carrying a canister toward one of the ambulances shortly before flames engulfed the vehicle. Police said they are searching for three suspects, but no arrests have been made.
Local resident Mark Reisner described hearing powerful explosions during the incident. Speaking to Sky News, he said he arrived at the scene just as another ambulance erupted in flames.
“A very loud explosion, you sort of felt it go through your guts,” Reisner said. “It’s just left us all reeling with confusion and shock.”
The attack has sparked strong condemnation from political and religious leaders across the United Kingdom.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the incident as a “horrific” antisemitic attack and urged unity against hatred.
“Antisemitism has no place in our society and it’s really important that we all stand together at a moment like this,” Starmer said.
Shomrim, a community security organization that operates a neighborhood watch in the area, also condemned the attack, calling it a “targeted and deeply concerning incident affecting a vital emergency service serving the local Jewish community.”
The incident has heightened fears within Britain’s Jewish community, which has reported rising antisemitic threats in recent years. According to the Community Security Trust, which monitors antisemitism in the UK, more than 3,700 incidents were recorded in 2025, up sharply from 1,662 in 2022.
Recent attacks have added to the sense of vulnerability. In October 2025, a man drove a vehicle into people gathered outside a synagogue in Manchester during Yom Kippur celebrations before fatally stabbing one person. Another individual died after being inadvertently shot by police during the response.
Last week, two men in London were also charged with conducting alleged “hostile” surveillance of the UK’s Jewish community on behalf of Iran.
Peter Zinkin, a Conservative councillor representing Golders Green, said the community was deeply shaken by the attack.
“Burning ambulances in the middle of the night is a disgrace,” he said, adding that residents felt both distress and anger.
Religious leaders also spoke out strongly. Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally said acts of violence and intimidation against Jewish communities must be firmly rejected.
Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis described the attack as a “sickening assault,” warning that Jewish communities worldwide are facing a growing pattern of violent incidents.
“At a time when Jewish communities around the world are facing a growing pattern of these violent attacks, we will meet this moment with shared resolve and stand together against hatred and intimidation,” he wrote on social media.