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A 19-year-old man who was arrested in connection with an arson attack on ambulances operated by a Jewish charity in north London last month has been released on bail, according to the Metropolitan Police. The individual was detained on 4 April after being identified by officers during a hearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, which involved three other suspects. He is due to appear again in May.
Meanwhile, two other men, aged 45 and 47, who were arrested shortly after the attack took place, have been released without any further action, the police confirmed on Monday. In contrast, three suspects—Hamza Iqbal, 20, Rehan Khan, 19, and a 17-year-old boy—have been formally charged with arson being reckless as to whether life would be endangered. These charges were brought on 3 April.
The incident involved four ambulances belonging to Hatzola, a volunteer emergency medical service, which were set on fire in the early hours of 23 March close to a synagogue in Golders Green. The fire triggered explosions caused by gas cylinders on the vehicles, resulting in shattered windows in the nearby buildings. Fortunately, no injuries were reported. CCTV footage captured three individuals fleeing the scene immediately after the fire was started.
Iqbal and Khan are British nationals from Leyton, and the 17-year-old—who cannot be named due to legal restrictions—is a dual British and Pakistani national from Walthamstow. Prosecutors stated during a recent hearing that the evidence suggested the attack was “premeditated and targeted against the Jewish community.” They also revealed that investigators are exploring potential links to an Iranian-backed group that claimed responsibility for the attack. While counter-terrorism officers are leading the investigation, the incident is not currently being classified as a terrorism case. The charged suspects have been remanded in custody pending their next court appearance. In response to the attack, police increased patrols in neighborhoods with significant Jewish populations. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer condemned the arson as a “deeply shocking antisemitic arson attack,” and Cdr Helen Flanagan, head of Counter Terrorism Policing London, praised the local community’s “incredible” support following the event
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