Four ambulances belonging to a Jewish volunteer service have been set on fire in an anti-Semitic attack outside a London synagogue.
Four emergency vehicles in the Hatzola Northwest’s fleet were firebombed at around 1.40am on Monday morning in Golders Green.
Three suspects remain at large and the fire is being treated as an ‘anti-Semitic hate crime’,the Met Police said.
Footage shared on social media shows three hooded figures walking towards the parked ambulances before flames erupt from the site.
A drone view of the destroyed ambulances in Golders Green (Picture: Reuters)
The fleet were engulfed in flames
Other videos show the ambulances engulfed in the blaze with loud explosions coming from the fire.
The police said the blasts were likely caused by gas cannisters on board the vehicles.
The Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis called the attack a ‘particularly sickening assault’.
He added: ‘Our Hatzola volunteer ambulance corps is an extraordinary service,whose sole mission is to protect life,Jewish and non-Jewish alike.
‘The targeting of Hatzola by people so committed to terror,hatred and the desecration of life is a most painful illustration of the ongoing battle between those who sanctify life and those who seek to destroy it.
‘At a time when Jewish communities around the world are facing a growing pattern of these violent attacks,we will meet this moment with shared resolve and stand together against hatred and intimidation.’
The Prime Minister called it ‘deeply shocking’,saying that antisemitism has ‘no place in our society’.
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Supt Sarah Jackson,who leads policing in the area,said: ‘We know this incident will cause a great deal of community concern and officers remain on scene to carry out urgent enquiries.
‘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.
‘There have been no arrests yet,and we would urge anyone with information to please contact us as soon as possible.’
Firefighters respond to a fire in Golders Green after an apparent arson attack on Highfield Road (Picture: AP)
Four hooded figures were pictured approaching the ambulances
Dozens of residents were evacuated from their homes,with around 30 taken to a local shelter.
The Hatzola is a volunteer,non-profit,organisation that provides free emergency care and transport for the Jewish community.
The Hatzola has served the Golders Green community – one of the largest in the UK – since 1979.
The area’s councillor Dean Cohen told Jewish News it was a ‘particularly chilling’ attack.
He added it would send ‘shockwaves through our community at a time of already heightened fears over anti-Semitism in the UK’.
‘It is beyond time for the authorities to wake and do more to tackle this hate running riot do more to tackle this hate running riot.’
Finchley and Golders Green MP Sarah Sackman called the attack ‘cowardly and despicable’.
She added: ‘It is horrific and will cause intense alarm. I’m clear antisemitism has no place in our society and the perpetrators must feel the full force of the law.’
Firefighters put out the fire by 3am this morning (Picture: AP)
The Chief executive of the Community Security Trust,a British charity which protects the Jewish community,Mark Gardner said: ‘The antisemitic arson attack against Hatzola ambulances in Golders Green has obvious comparison to similar recent attacks in Belgium and the Netherlands. N
‘No injuries have been reported at this time and we are helping police with their enquiries. CST thanks all those who responded from 999 emergency agencies; and Shomrim,Hatzolah and our own CST volunteers.’
The London Fire Brigade said six fire engines and 40 firefighters attended the scene at Highfield Road,with the blaze brought under control by 3.06am.
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