British prosecutors charged three men with arson over the March 23 attack on Jewish community ambulances in north London, marking a significant development in what authorities are treating as an antisemitic hate crime.
The defendants — Hamza Iqbal, 20, Rehan Khan, 19, and an unnamed 17-year-old dual British-Pakistani citizen — face charges of arson with intent to damage property and being reckless as to whether life would be endangered. All three were arrested at separate addresses in east London on Wednesday.
Four ambulances belonging to Hatzola, a Jewish volunteer organization providing free medical transportation and emergency response in north London, were set ablaze while parked near a synagogue in Golders Green. The northwest London neighborhood is home to a significant Jewish population.
deeply shocking antisemitic arson attack
Keir Starmer, British Prime Minister — Reuters
Counter-terrorism officers are leading the investigation, though the incident has not yet been classified as terrorism. The Metropolitan Police confirmed they are treating the case as an antisemitic hate crime, despite no physical injuries occurring during the attack.
Reports the charges factually while emphasizing the antisemitic nature of the crime and the broader security implications for London's Jewish community. Highlights the international connections of the group claiming responsibility.
Focuses on the legal proceedings and court appearances while noting the group was previously unknown to experts. Emphasizes the increased police presence in Jewish neighborhoods following the attack.
Hamza Iqbal, 20, Rehan Khan, 19, and a 17-year-old boy are due to appear at Westminster magistrates court on Saturday
Three people charged over alleged arson attack on Jewish charity ambulances in London | UK news | The Guardian
They will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court.
Three charged over Golders Green arson attack | Metropolitan Police
Hamza Iqbal, 20, and Rehan Khan, 19, both British nationals from Leyton, and a 17-year-old boy, a dual British and Pakistani national from Walthamstow, are due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Saturday
Three charged after four Jewish community ambulances set on fire in London | The Independent
A previously unknown group calling itself Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiya — the Islamic Movement of the People of the Right Hand — claimed responsibility for the London attack through online channels. Intelligence sources suggest the Iran-aligned multinational militant collective has also claimed responsibility for similar incidents in Belgium and the Netherlands.
French counter-terrorism officials have indicated the same group may have been involved in a foiled bomb plot targeting a Bank of America branch in Paris on March 28, suggesting a coordinated campaign across European cities.
Two additional men in their 40s were arrested on March 25 in connection with the attack but were subsequently released on bail. The investigation continues as authorities work to establish the full scope of the network behind the incident.
The three charged defendants are scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Saturday. Their arrests represent the first formal charges in a case that has heightened security concerns across London's Jewish communities.
Following the Golders Green attack, Metropolitan Police promised enhanced security measures around Jewish community sites throughout London. The incident has raised questions about the emergence of new militant groups targeting Jewish institutions across Europe and their potential connections to state actors in the region.