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UK counterterror police have signalled Iran is the focus of their probe into a series of arson attacks around London, after a newly emerged group linked to the Islamic republic claimed at least its fifth attack in a week.
Officers on Sunday also threatened to use the anti-espionage National Security Act against anyone involved in the incidents, raising the potential sentence for anyone convicted.
Vicki Evans, UK senior national co-ordinator for counterterrorism policing, said: “As the conflict in the Middle East continues to evolve, Counter Terrorism Policing and our partners remain alive to the threat of Iranian state aggression in the UK.”
Evans was speaking at the scene of the latest incident, in Harrow, in which a firebomb was thrown into Kenton United Synagogue around midnight.
The Kenton incident follows an attempted arson attack in the early hours of Wednesday against Finchley Reform Synagogue, an attempted arson attack on Wednesday against the opposition-aligned Iran International TV station, an attempt to use drones against the Israeli embassy, and an arson attack on Friday night against a Jewish educational business in Hendon.
The Kenton attack, the other incidents in the past week and an attack on ambulances owned by a Jewish charity on March 23 have all been claimed by a new group called Ashab al-Yamin. The group uses Telegram channels often used for Iranian state propaganda.
Evans told reporters: “We are aware of public reporting that this group may have links to Iran. As you would expect we will explore the question of motivation and direction as our investigations continue.”
London’s Metropolitan Police earlier on Sunday said the Kenton incident was being treated as arson and was being investigated by its anti-terror unit.
Matt Jukes, Met deputy commissioner, said rubbish bins had been set alight outside a residential block in Barnet in another incident overnight. He gave no further details on that alleged attack.
The force later said it had been called at 5.19am on Sunday to reports of a fire outside a residential property on Birkbeck Road, North Finchley, an area with a large Jewish population. The force said the incident was being treated as arson but that no one had been arrested.
Evans said her officers were considering whether those behind the attacks were recruiting people on a “violence as a service” basis. The tactic, pioneered by Russia, involves online recruiting and payments to people with no direct stake in the cause involved.
“When we identify you, we will seek to prosecute you,” she said. “This will include considering offences under the National Security Act, which comes with a significant sentence and lifetime restrictions.”
The Kenton attack was spotted at about midnight by officers on “deterrence and reassurance patrols” that began following a series of incidents in north-west London, the Met said in a statement.
The patrol was part of an “enhanced police presence” announced by the force on Saturday for parts of north-west London with large Jewish populations.
A video posted online on channels associated with Ashab al-Yamin showed a figure in the grounds of Kenton United Synagogue throwing an item through a window, followed by flames.
Early on Sunday evening at the synagogue, police had left and the building had been closed up. One of the windows at the building’s front had been boarded up where the attackers threw in the projectile.
Ashab al-Yamin has claimed responsibility for multiple attacks across western Europe since March 9, mainly against Jewish community targets.
Writing on X, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said he was “appalled” by the spate of attacks. “We are increasing visible policing and those responsible will be found and brought to justice,” he wrote.
The extra resources being deployed to north-west London include armed response vehicles. The previous attacks on Jewish community targets have all been classed as antisemitic hate crimes.
Four men aged between 17 and 20 are facing arson charges over the March 23 attack on the ambulances — belonging to the Hatzola charity — in Golders Green.
A 46-year-old man and a 47-year-old woman have been arrested over the Finchley incident, which caused no damage, while a 21-year-old, a 19-year-old and a 16-year-old have been charged over the Iran International incident.
Police on Saturday said they had found a “powdered substance” in Kensington Gardens, central London, following a claim by Ashab al-Yamin to have attacked the neighbouring Israeli embassy with drones. However, the police denied the embassy had been attacked.
There have been no arrests so far over the incident in Hendon on Friday evening in which an attacker started a fire outside the storefront of premises previously used by Jewish Futures, a Jewish educational charity.
