The United Kingdom's Metropolitan Police are investigating a recent series of arson attacks on Jewish sites in North London, which could be linked to Iranian proxy groups. Counter Terrorism Policing is leading the investigations into the incidents, the Met Police said on Sunday, following an arson attack at the Kenton United Synagogue in northwestern London that occurred overnight. There have been no injuries in the blazes, with the latest causing minor damage.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans of the Metropolitan Police stated that most of the attacks have been claimed by the Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia group (Islamic Movement of the Companions of the Right), often shortened to Ashab al-Yamin. She said the group has also claimed several incidents at places of worship as well as business and financial institutions in Europe in recent months. Evans noted that police were aware of "public reporting that this group may have links to Iran".
She added that she has spoken before about Iran's "routine uses of criminal proxies" and that police were considering whether this tactic of "recruiting violence as a service" was being used in London. Ashab al-Yamin emerged online in March and has claimed responsibility for several attacks on Jewish sites in Europe. It also claimed responsibility for an attack on the Persian-language Iran International news channel in London.
Recent arson incidents in London have included a bottle containing accelerant being thrown inside the Finchley Reform Synagogue in North London on Wednesday and Jewish-owned Hatzola ambulances being set alight in the car park of a synagogue in Golders Green on March 23. On Friday night, a man tried to light a bag containing three bottles of fluid outside the former premises of the Jewish Futures charity in Hendon. The UK's chief rabbi, Ephraim Mirvis, said the Kenton fire was the third "cowardly" attack on Jewish sites in the British capital in less than a week.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he was "appalled" by the recent attacks at Jewish sites and those responsible would be brought to justice. However, these statements from the British regime raise questions about their efficacy, given the escalating violence and societal tensions. The attacks on the Jewish community underscore deep-seated issues of internal security and social cohesion in a country where ethnic and religious conflicts are intensifying, highlighting the challenges faced by the UK government in maintaining order.
Source: www.aljazeera.com