U.K. police said Sunday they are investigating a string of arson attacks on Jewish sites in London, with counterterror officers examining whether the incidents were carried out by Iranian proxies.
The Metropolitan Police force said Sunday it is probing fires at synagogues and other sites linked to the Jewish community, as well as an attack on a Persian-language media company critical of Iran's government. No one has been injured in the blazes, the latest of which caused minor damage to a north London synagogue on Saturday night.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans said counterterror officers are investigating whether a group calling itself Harakat Ashab al-Islamia, which has claimed the attacks online, has links to Iran.
"We are aware of public reporting that suggests this group may have links to Iran. As you would expect, we will continue to explore that question as our investigation evolves," Evans said.
What the Left Is Saying
Progressive voices and Jewish community leaders have emphasized the severity of what they characterize as an escalating campaign of violence against British Jews. Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis, the leader of the United Kingdom's Jewish community, called the attacks part of "a sustained campaign of violence and intimidation against the Jewish community of the UK."
"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," Mirvis wrote on X.
Progressive commentators have pointed to the broader context of rising antisemitism in Europe and the role they say Iranian proxies play in targeting Jewish communities abroad. Some progressive advocacy groups have called for stronger diplomatic action against Iran and enhanced security protections for synagogues and community institutions.
What the Right Is Saying
Conservative leaders and security analysts have condemned the attacks while emphasizing the need for firm law enforcement action. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he was "appalled" by the attacks and pledged that "those responsible will be found and brought to justice."
"This is abhorrent and it will not be tolerated. Attacks on our Jewish community are attacks on Britain," Starmer said.
Conservative commentators have highlighted what they describe as Iran's use of criminal proxies to conduct attacks on European soil, with some calling for tougher sanctions and diplomatic isolation of Tehran. Security experts associated with conservative think tanks have argued that the UK government must take a stronger stance against Iranian-backed terrorism.
What the Numbers Show
The Metropolitan Police have made several arrests in connection with the attacks. Several people, ranging in age from teenagers to people in their 40s, have been arrested and charged in connection with the incidents.
The most serious incident occurred on March 23, when four ambulances belonging to a Jewish charity were torched in the Golders Green neighborhood of northwest London. All incidents have happened within a few miles of each other.
Britain's MI5 domestic intelligence service says more than 20 "potentially lethal" Iran-backed plots were disrupted in the year to October. The group Harakat Ashab al-Islamia, which translates as the Islamic Movement of the Companions of the Right, has also claimed responsibility for synagogue attacks in Belgium and the Netherlands.
Some security experts note that Harakat Ashab al-Islamia is likely a flag of convenience rather than a coherent group, and its claims should be treated with caution.
The Bottom Line
The arson attacks on Jewish sites in London represent a serious security concern for the UK, with police actively investigating potential Iranian proxy involvement. The Metropolitan Police have deployed extra uniformed and plainclothes officers to northwest London following the attacks.
Israel's government has described Harakat Ashab al-Islamia as a recently founded group with suspected links to an Iranian proxy. While no one has been injured in any of the incidents, the string of attacks and the group's claimed links to Iran have heightened concerns about the safety of Jewish communities in Europe.
Police are continuing their investigation and have not yet laid charges in connection with the most recent synagogue fire. Deputy Commissioner Matt Jukes warned that anyone found to have carried out these attacks would face justice, noting that "thugs for hire" who have previously conducted similar crimes are now "serving long prison sentences."