British police said they were investigating a suspected arson attack as an antisemitic hate crime, after volunteer ambulances run by a Jewish organisation were set on fire.
British police are investigating a hate crime after four ambulances belonging to a Jewish charity in London were set on fire in London, authorities said on Monday.
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Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the Monday morning incident as a "deeply shocking antisemitic arson attack."
“My thoughts are with the Jewish community who are waking up this morning to this horrific news," he wrote in a post on X.
Officers were called to Golders Green, a London neighbourhood with a large Jewish community, after receiving reports of a fire, the Metropolitan Police force said.
London's Metropolitan Police force said the burnt vehicles were four Hatzalah ambulances belonging to the Jewish Community Ambulance service.
Multiple gas cylinders on the vehicles exploded, causing windows to break in an adjacent apartment block. Nearby homes were evacuated as a precautionary measure, and no injuries were reported.
The cause of the fire is being investigated, authorities said. "We are in the process of examining CCTV and are aware of online footage. We believe we are looking for three suspects at this early stage," Superintendent Sarah Jackson said, adding that no arrest has been made.
“We know this incident will cause a great deal of community concern and officers remain on scene to carry out urgent enquiries,” Jackson added.
Shomrim, a nonprofit organisation which operates a neighbourhood watch in the area, condemned the attack.
“This was not only a criminal act of arson, but a targeted and deeply concerning incident affecting a vital emergency service serving the local Jewish community,” it said in a post on X.
Community Security Trust (CST), a charity which monitors antisemitism in the UK, said in a statement on X that it was assisting police in their enquiries.
Hatzola was established in 1979 and is operated by volunteers. It provides free medical transportation and emergency response to those living in north London.