Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth has warned that the suspected antisemitic arson attack in Golders Green reflects a wider global increase in antisemitic incidents, calling it part of a “series of antisemitic crime incidents right around the globe.”
Speaking at the scene after witnessing the aftermath of the attack, Mirvis expressed deep concern.
“I’ve just been on site, standing alongside three ambulances parked just alongside a synagogue, which had its windows blown out, and an apartment block. Many storey on that site have windows blown out. It’s an outright miracle that nobody was injured. We need to appreciate the depths of inhumanity here, how people can stoop so low. We’ve been experiencing a series of antisemitic crime incidents around the globe. This is the latest, and thank God there were no fatalities and no injuries, but we have to view this on the most serious level.”
Ephraim Mirvis
The remarks follow an arson attack on ambulances operated by Hatzola, a Jewish volunteer emergency medical service. Four ambulances were deliberately set on fire overnight in Golders Green, causing multiple explosions reportedly linked to gas canisters inside the vehicles.
No arrests have been made, but investigators are reviewing CCTV footage that appears to show three individuals dressed in black igniting one of the ambulances.
Given the nature of the incident, the Metropolitan Police’s counter-terrorism command has taken over the investigation. Detective Chief Superintendent, Luke Williams stated that the attack has not been declared a terror incident “at this stage,” but counter-terror police are leading the investigation and “all lines of inquiry remain open.”
“We are aware of an online claim from a group taking responsibility for this attack. Establishing the authenticity and accuracy of this claim will be a priority for the investigation team, but it is not something we can confirm at this point.”
Luke Williams
Laurence Blitz, a Hatzola representative, also described the attack as “extremely shocking,” and emphasized that despite the damage, the organization’s emergency services remain operational.
Rising Antisemitic Attacks in the UK Deepen Concerns
According to the Community Security Trust, the UK has recently experienced some of the highest levels of anti-Jewish hate. These spikes often coincide with geopolitical tensions, especially conflicts involving Israel and Gaza, which trigger increases in both online and offline hostility. Incidents range from verbal abuse and digital harassment to vandalism and, in severe cases, physical violence.
UK Prime Minister, Keir Starmer condemned the Golders Green attack as “deeply shocking,” describing it as an act that has no place in British society.
Health Secretary, Wes Streeting echoed his sentiment and urged the public to “wake up” and confront antisemitism more directly. “Those responsible for this attack must know that the Jewish community will not face up to this hatred alone,” he said, adding that “the whole country will stand with them.”
He also warned that such attacks are intended to intimidate Jewish communities into limiting their visibility and way of life, but insisted that the broader society must stand in solidarity and actively challenge these hateful ideologies.
Similarly, Sarah Sackman, the MP for Finchley and Golders Green, indicated that “We have to be vigilant. We have to stand up and speak out against this vile hatred. This is a symbolic act of hatred, and it’s why we must do everything in our power, working with government, working with law enforcement agencies, to ensure that the evil perpetrators of this incident feel the full force of the law.” “These incidents don’t come up in a vacuum. They come up in a culture of hatred which needs to be rooted out at the source,” she added.
However, Gideon Falter, Chief Executive at the Campaign Against Antisemitism, criticized the government after the attack on four Jewish-run ambulances.
“Unfortunately, the Jewish community is not impressed anymore by politicians turning up and saying how we all stand together, and the government is going to do everything in its power. We’ve now had successive governments tolerating everything from hate marches to hate breaches and doing absolutely nothing about it. The government has on its hands a situation in which the tolerant, decent Britain that we all thought we knew has turned into a Britain where people turn up in the dead of night and burn ambulances down to the ground.”
Gideon Falter
According to Falter, “there is absolutely nothing that this government seems to be saying which is going to seriously move the needle.”
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