Three men charged with arson over London Jewish ambulance attack

British prosecutors have charged three men with arson following the March 23 attack that destroyed four ambulances belonging to Hatzola, a Jewish volunteer medical service, in London's Golders Green neighborhood.

The suspects — Hamza Iqbal, 20, and Rehan Khan, 19, both British nationals, and a 17-year-old dual British-Pakistani citizen who cannot be named for legal reasons — appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court on Saturday. They face charges of arson with intent to damage property and being reckless as to whether life would be endangered.

The attack occurred overnight on March 23 in Golders Green, an area of north London with a significant Jewish population. The targeted ambulances belonged to Hatzola, a volunteer organization that provides free emergency medical transportation primarily for the Orthodox Jewish community.

deeply shocking antisemitic arson attack

Keir Starmer, British Prime Minister — Al Jazeera

Explosions from cylinders on the vehicles shattered nearby windows, according to the London Fire Brigade, though no injuries were reported. The incident prompted police to increase security around Jewish community sites across the capital.

Counterterrorism officers are leading the investigation, though authorities have not classified the incident as a terrorism offense. Police are treating it as an antisemitic hate crime.

The Iran-aligned group Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiya claimed responsibility for the attack through statements monitored by intelligence services. The group, also known as the Islamic Movement of the People of the Right Hand, has previously claimed responsibility for similar attacks in Belgium and the Netherlands.

The three defendants did not enter pleas during their 45-minute court appearance on Saturday. They have been remanded in custody and are scheduled to appear at London's Central Criminal Court, known as the Old Bailey, on April 24.

The attack represents the latest in a series of incidents targeting Jewish institutions across Europe, raising concerns about rising antisemitism. The targeting of emergency medical services — which serve broader communities beyond their primary constituencies — marks an escalation in the nature of such attacks.