British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday condemned the burning of ambulances outside a synagogue in north London, calling it a “deeply shocking, deliberate anti-Semitic attack” and stressing that “anti-Semitism has no place in our society.”
“Four ambulances belonging to a volunteer Jewish emergency service were set on fire in the early hours of Monday, in what police consider an anti-Semitic hate crime.
The attack took place in Golders Green, a neighborhood known for having a large Jewish community. According to officials, the ambulances, operated by Hatzula Northwest, were intentionally targeted and severely damaged in the fire.
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Several gas cylinders exploded inside the vehicles, causing loud explosions that shattered windows in nearby homes and forced precautionary evacuation. Despite the severity of the fire, no injuries were reported.
Firefighting teams rushed to the scene with six engines and about 40 firefighters, and were able to control the fire. Residents described that they woke up to the sounds of loud explosions and saw thick smoke rising into the night sky.
Police are investigating the anti-Semitic hate crime angle
The Metropolitan Police have launched an investigation and are treating the incident as an anti-Semitic hate crime. CCTV footage reportedly shows three people approaching one of the ambulances and setting it on fire before fleeing the scene.Police said no arrests have been made yet, but officers are examining surveillance footage and are appealing to the public to come forward with information. Additional patrols have been deployed in the area to reassure the community, and authorities are cooperating with local religious leaders.Local representatives and residents expressed their shock and sadness over the attack. Community groups explained that the explosions heard were caused by oxygen tanks inside the ambulances and not explosive devices.The incident raised concerns about rising anti-Semitism in the UK. Recent years have seen a rise in hate-related incidents, including a fatal attack outside a synagogue in Manchester in 2025.Golders Green is home to numerous synagogues, schools and Jewish institutions, making the targeting of emergency vehicles outside the synagogue particularly disturbing to the community.
