Four men have admitted their role in an arson attack that destroyed four ambulances operated by a Jewish charity in a north London neighbourhood, in what prosecutors described as a premeditated assault on the Jewish community.
At a hearing at the Old Bailey on Friday, British nationals Hamza Iqbal, 20, Rehan Khan, 19, and Judex Atshatshi, 18, along with British-Pakistani Saif Ali, 18, pleaded guilty to criminal damage charges linked to the incident on 23 March. The ambulances, owned by the Hatzola charity, were parked near a synagogue in Golders Green, an area with a significant Jewish population, when they were set alight. The damage was estimated at £1 million (€1.1 million).
A targeted attack
Prosecutor Emma Harraway told an earlier hearing that the evidence pointed to "a premeditated and targeted attack against the Jewish community." Three of the men carried out the arson while the fourth waited in a getaway car, according to court statements.
The attack was one of a series of incidents in the British capital this year targeting Jewish or Israel-linked sites, including synagogues. The Iranian-linked group Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiyah (HAYI), also known as the Islamic Movement of Companions of the Right, previously claimed responsibility for the ambulance destruction and other attacks. The UK government has announced plans to proscribe HAYI as a national security threat.
Defence lawyers, however, denied that the four defendants had any connections to groups proscribed in the UK, and the men were remanded in custody. Sentencing is expected in spring 2027.
A fifth defendant, Subhan Ahmed, 18, pleaded not guilty to assisting an offender and is due to stand trial at the Old Bailey in January.
The case has reignited concerns about the safety of Jewish communities across Europe, where antisemitic incidents have been on the rise. In a separate development, an antisemitic video stoked tensions in the Alps over Orthodox Jewish visitors, highlighting the broader regional challenge.
London's Jewish community has called for stronger protections, while the city's mayor has pledged to increase police patrols in affected areas. The attack also comes amid heightened security concerns across the continent, with incidents such as the car attack outside Caen station in France and the Swedish school sword attack underscoring the need for vigilance.
The Hatzola charity, which provides emergency medical services to the Jewish community, has said it will rebuild its fleet. "We are grateful that no one was injured, but this attack has deeply shaken our volunteers and the people we serve," a spokesperson said.
As the legal process moves forward, the case serves as a stark reminder of the persistent threat of hate crimes in European cities, and the importance of solidarity with affected communities.
