Arsonists torch Jewish charity ambulances in London, police investigate antisemitic hate crime.

Four ambulances belonging to Hatzola Northwest, a Jewish charity volunteer emergency service, were deliberately set on fire in the early hours of Monday, March 23, 2026, in Golders Green, north London.

“The police said the incident is being treated as an antisemitic hate crime”

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The attack occurred around 1:45 AM when emergency services were called to Highfield Road, where the vehicles were engulfed in flames according to the London Fire Brigade, which deployed six fire engines and 40 firefighters to bring the blaze under control by 3:06 AM.

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No injuries were reported, though multiple oxygen cylinders on the ambulances exploded, shattering windows in a nearby apartment block and forcing the evacuation of local residents as a precautionary measure.

The targeted organization, Hatzola established in 1979, provides free medical transportation and emergency response services to residents of north London, serving both Jewish and non-Jewish populations in their time of need.

The Metropolitan Police confirmed they are investigating the incident as an antisemitic hate crime, with Superintendent Sarah Jackson stating that officers 'know this incident will cause a great deal of community concern' and remain on scene conducting urgent enquiries.

CCTV footage appears to show three masked individuals in black clothing approaching the vehicles with canisters before igniting them and fleeing the scene, leading police to believe they are looking for three suspects at this early stage.

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Although not officially classified as a terrorist incident, counter-terrorism officers have been put in charge of the investigation, which is now being led by Counter Terrorism Policing due to the targeted nature of the attack.

Authorities are also working to establish the authenticity of an online claim of responsibility attributed to Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia (The Islamic Movement of the People of the Right Hand), a group that has previously claimed responsibility for similar attacks targeting Jewish institutions in Belgium and the Netherlands.

The attack comes amid a concerning rise in antisemitic incidents across the United Kingdom, with the Community Security Trust reporting 3,700 antisemitic incidents recorded in 2025, up from 1,662 in 2022, representing a significant increase in hate-motivated acts since the October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel and the subsequent Gaza war.

Golders Green, which has London's largest Jewish and Orthodox Jewish community, has experienced previous targeted attacks, including a series of antisemitic acts in September 2025 where five Jewish sites were desecrated with human feces, demonstrating an escalating pattern of hostility toward Jewish institutions.

Local residents expressed shock but noted the attack was not entirely unexpected, with community members describing how they 'woke up by arsonists targeting the ambulances in our community' and highlighting their awareness of the dangers they face amid rising antisemitism.

The attack on emergency medical services has particularly alarmed the community, as Hatzola volunteers work alongside Britain's National Health Service to provide critical emergency care, making the targeting of life-saving equipment especially concerning.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the incident as 'a deeply shocking antisemitic arson attack,' expressing solidarity with the Jewish community and stating that 'antisemitism has no place in our society,' while Health Secretary Wes Streeting announced that the government will replace the four damaged ambulances and provide additional support from the London Ambulance Service.

Community leaders across the political spectrum denounced the attack, with Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis calling it a 'particularly sickening assault' on a service dedicated to protecting lives, while Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally condemned 'such acts of violence, hatred and intimidation' as having 'no place in our society.'

Al Jazeera

The Israeli embassy in London issued a strongly worded statement declaring that 'antisemitism is rampant in London' and that the firebombing was 'the consequence of years of hate being tolerated in plain sight,' calling for decisive action to end the climate of intimidation before it spirals further.

Local authorities have increased police patrols in the area and are engaging with faith leaders to provide reassurance, while the Board of Deputies of British Jews pledged that 'the UK Jewish community will meet the moment with strength, pride and resolve' and vowed to replace the ambulances and continue their service.