Three charged over Jewish charity ambulance fires

Three charged over Jewish charity ambulance fires

Four ambulances operated by a Jewish volunteer group were torched in north London last week, leading to the arrest of three individuals. The vehicles, belonging to Hatzola, were set ablaze in the car park of a synagogue in Golders Green during the early hours of 23 March.

The suspects include two British men, Hamza Iqbal, 20, and Rehan Khan, 19, as well as a 17-year-old boy with dual nationality. All three have been charged with arson, intent to damage property, and recklessness regarding potential life endangerment. The Metropolitan Police confirmed their arrest at three separate east London addresses, linking them to the suspected incident.

“Since the attack last week, our team has been working tirelessly to uncover those behind it,” said Cdr Helen Flanagan, head of Counter Terrorism Policing London. “The community’s support has been truly remarkable.”

Iqbal and Khan, both from Leyton, and the 17-year-old from Walthamstow—who cannot be named for legal reasons—will face charges at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Saturday. The Crown Prosecution Service’s special crime division, led by Frank Ferguson, reiterated that the criminal proceedings are ongoing and that the defendants have the right to a fair trial.

Earlier in the week, two men aged 45 and 47 were detained in connection with the case and released on bail until late April. Counter-terror police are overseeing the investigation, though the Met stated the event has not been classified as a terrorist act at this stage. Police patrols have been intensified in Jewish-populated areas since the incident, with Det Ch Sup Luke Williams noting the added officers are precautionary and not tied to a specific threat.