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Another Attempted Arson Attack at Jewish Site in London, Charity Says
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on April 19, 2026
3 min readLast updated: April 19, 2026
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Quick Summary
A synagogue in north-west London—Kenton United Synagogue—was subject to another attempted arson, part of a disturbing pattern of such incidents in recent weeks targeting the Jewish community. No injuries occurred, and investigations, including possible links to a shadowy, pro‑Iranian group, are ongo
UK Jews facing campaign of violence, chief rabbi says after another attack
Recent Arson Attacks and Rising Concerns in the UK Jewish Community
By Michael Holden
LONDON, April 19 (Reuters) - Britain's chief rabbi said on Sunday a sustained campaign of violence against the Jewish community was gathering momentum after a synagogue in north London became the latest target in a spate of arson attacks.
Investigation into Synagogue Attack
UK counter-terrorism police are heading up an investigation into the latest incident, which occurred at Kenton United Synagogue in the Harrow area of the city shortly after midnight.
The fire did not cause any significant damage but it was the third "cowardly attack" on Jewish sites in the British capital in less than a week, Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis said.
Chief Rabbi's Warning
"A sustained campaign of violence and intimidation against the Jewish community of the UK is gathering momentum," Mirvis said on X. "Thank God, no lives have been lost, but we cannot, and must not, wait for that to change before we understand just how dangerous this moment is for all of our society."
Other Recent Incidents
Area Cordoned Off Around Israeli Embassy
AREA CORDONED OFF AROUND ISRAELI EMBASSY
On Friday night, there was an attempted arson attack on a business premises with links to the Jewish community, while a few days earlier police arrested two suspects over an attempted arson attack on another synagogue in the capital.
Meanwhile an area around the Israeli embassy in London was cordoned off following an online report that it had been targeted with drones carrying "dangerous substances". Police later said items they found did not contain any harmful or hazardous substances.
Attacks on Jewish Emergency Services
Last month, several ambulances belonging to the Jewish volunteer emergency service Hatzola, which were parked near a synagogue in Golders Green, were torched.
Police Response
Police said they had boosted their presence in the area, deploying armed response vehicles and resources from the counter-terrorism division. It was officers on a "deterrence" patrol shortly after midnight who spotted a window at the Kenton synagogue had been damaged.
They found an accelerant had been thrown into the building.
Political and Community Reactions
Prime Minister's Statement
"I am appalled by recent attempted anti-Semitic arson attacks in North London," British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on X. "This is abhorrent and it will not be tolerated. Attacks on our Jewish community are attacks on Britain."
Claims of Responsibility
PRO-IRANIAN GROUP CLAIMS RESPONSIBILITY
Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiyya
Pro-Iranian group Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiyya, or Movement of the Companions of the Right Hand of Islam, has claimed responsibility for most of the recent incidents, posting on social media that it was behind the Kenton arson, along with a video purporting to show the attack.
The group has also said it was responsible for a spate of attacks across Europe on U.S., Israeli and Jewish targets.
Police Statements on Community Safety
"We recognise the feeling of concern among local people and do not underestimate the impact of incidents of this nature – particularly our Jewish communities," Detective Chief Superintendent Luke Williams, who leads policing in northwest London, said in a statement.
"We continue to work with our colleagues from Counter Terrorism Policing who are leading the investigations into all of these incidents due to the similar circumstances and online claims of responsibility."
(Reporting by Michael Holden; Editing by David Holmes)
Key Takeaways
- •On April 19, 2026, Community Security Trust (CST) reported an attempted arson at Kenton United Synagogue in Harrow, north-west London; minor smoke damage occurred, but there were no injuries or structural damage. (itv.com)
- •This incident follows other attacks in Finchley, Golders Green (where four Jewish charity ambulances were torched on March 23), and Hendon, reflecting a rising wave of antisemitic violence. (apnews.com)
- •London police, including Counter‑Terrorism Policing, are leading the investigations due to the similarities across incidents and online claims of responsibility. Pro‑Iranian group Harakat Ashab al‑Yamin al‑Islamiyya has claimed responsibility for many, though authorities have yet to confirm their authenticity. (en.wikipedia.org)
References
Frequently Asked Questions about Another attempted arson attack at Jewish site in London, charity says
1What happened at the Kenton United Synagogue in north London?
There was an attempted arson attack causing minor smoke damage, but no injuries or structural damage.
2Who claimed responsibility for the recent synagogue arson attacks?
The pro-Iranian group Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiyya claimed responsibility for most incidents.
3How have authorities responded to these incidents?
Police increased their presence and deployed armed response and counter-terrorism units in affected areas.
4Have there been similar attacks on Jewish sites in London recently?
Yes, multiple synagogues and Jewish community-linked sites have been targeted in the past weeks.
5Were there any injuries in the latest attempted arson attack?
No injuries were reported during the latest attempted arson at the north London synagogue.
