The United Kingdom is facing a major national security and hate crime investigation following a calculated arson attack in Golders Green, North London.
In the early hours of Monday, 23 March 2026, four ambulances belonging to the Hatzola Northwest volunteer service were destroyed in a blaze that triggered multiple explosions, shattered windows of nearby residential flats, and led to the evacuation of dozens of families.
While the Metropolitan Police initially labelled the incident an antisemitic hate crime, the emergence of a claim of responsibility from a group named Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia (HAYI) has shifted the investigation into the hands of the Counter Terrorism Command.
With suspected links to Iranian state-sponsored networks, this attack represents a significant escalation in targeted violence on UK soil.
How Did the Golders Green Arson Attack Unfold?
The attack was launched at approximately 01:45 GMT on Highfield Road. CCTV footage, now central to the Met’s investigation, shows three suspects dressed in black hooded clothing entering the car park of the Machzike Hadath Synagogue.
Very convenient isn’t it this attack in Golders Green, 3 men know exactly where to go to find 4 unprotected ambulances, and they have exactly the right tools, packs of solid combustibles to do it.
All exactly when they need it to generate support for the war in the Middle East. pic.twitter.com/rQef6psALC
— BladeoftheSun (@BladeoftheS) March 23, 2026
The suspects were filmed pouring an accelerant, believed to be gasoline, directly onto the specialised emergency vehicles.
Within seconds of ignition, the vehicles were engulfed. The intensity of the fire caused high-pressure oxygen cylinders stored inside the ambulances to detonate.
These “secondary explosions” were heard miles away and were powerful enough to blow out the windows of an adjacent apartment block, where 34 residents were forced to flee for their lives.
The London Fire Brigade responded with 40 firefighters and six engines, eventually bringing the inferno under control by 03:06 GMT. While four ambulances were reduced to charred skeletons, miraculously, no physical injuries were reported.
Who are Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia?
The most chilling development in the case is the online claim by Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia (The Islamic Movement of the Companions of the Right).
This group, previously unknown in the UK, released a Telegram video shortly after 06:00 GMT on Monday.
The Group’s Rhetoric and Motives
In their statement, HAYI claimed the Machzike Hadath Synagogue was a “bastion of support for Israel.” They specifically cited a 2024 visit by former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak as a reason for the targeting.
The video included Google Maps street views of the site and footage of the ambulances burning, suggesting a high level of premeditated reconnaissance.
Links to the “Axis of Resistance”
Security analysts at the SITE Intelligence Group and the International Centre for Counter-Terrorism (ICCT) have noted that HAYI’s logo and propaganda style are nearly identical to those used by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Iraqi militia Harakat Ansar Allah al-Awfiya.
This has led to intense scrutiny of potential Iranian involvement, though the Metropolitan Police have cautioned that the claim’s authenticity is still being verified.
Is This Part of a Wider European Terror Wave?
The Golders Green arson attack appears to be the latest in a string of incidents linked to HAYI across the continent this month:
- Liège, Belgium (9 March): An improvised explosive device (IED) was left outside a synagogue.
- Rotterdam, Netherlands (13 March): A Molotov cocktail attack on a synagogue.
- Amsterdam, Netherlands (14 March): An explosion at a Jewish school.
- Athens, Greece (Mid-March): A suspected targeted attack on a Jewish community site.
The coordinated nature of these events has led European security services to believe that HAYI may be operating via “local cells” directed by foreign intelligence agencies to conduct psychological warfare against Jewish communities.
What is the Metropolitan Police and Government Response?
The UK government has responded with a show of “unwavering support” for the affected community.
- Counter-Terrorism Lead: Detective Chief Superintendent Luke Williams confirmed that while the incident has not yet been formally declared a “terrorist act,” the Counter Terrorism Command is leading the search for the three hooded suspects.
- Emergency Funding: Health Secretary Wes Streeting announced that the government would fully fund the permanent replacement of the four destroyed ambulances. In the interim, the London Ambulance Service has provided backup vehicles to ensure Hatzola’s life-saving work continues.
- Diplomatic Pressure: Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper summoned the Iranian ambassador to the UK on Monday, citing “reckless and destabilising actions” following the recent arrests of two individuals suspected of spying on London’s Jewish community for Tehran.
How Does This Strike the Heart of the UK’s Medical Infrastructure?
Hatzola Northwest is a non-profit, volunteer-led service that has operated since 1979. It provides 24/7 emergency medical response to everyone in the community, regardless of faith.
By destroying these ambulances, the perpetrators did not just attack a religious site; they targeted a vital emergency service that often arrives at scenes faster than traditional NHS units.
Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis described the act as “particularly sickening,” noting that the attackers sought to “destroy life” by targeting those whose sole mission is to preserve it.
What Happens Next in the Investigation?
As of Tuesday, 24 March, no arrests have been made. The Metropolitan Police have launched an online portal for the public to upload any dashcam or doorbell footage from the Highfield Road area.
Key investigation priorities include:
- Forensic Profiling: Analysing the accelerant and rags used to ignite the vehicles.
- Digital Forensics: Tracing the Telegram metadata of the HAYI video to identify the source of the upload.
- Increased Security: High-visibility patrols have been ordered across North London, with a specific focus on Jewish schools and places of worship as the community prepares for Passover in April.
