Police for London dey investigate antisemitic hate crime after four ambulances wey belong to Jewish Community Ambulance service catch fire for Golders Green area. The incident happen for Highfield Road around 1:45am on Monday morning, and London Fire Brigade confirm say dem don put the fire under control by 3:06am. No person get injury from the fire, but police say dem believe say gas canisters for inside the ambulances cause explosions wey make nearby houses evacuate.
Metropolitan Police Superintendent Sarah Jackson wey dey lead policing for the area talk say dem dey treat the matter as antisemitic hate crime. She talk say dem dey examine CCTV footage and believe say three suspects dey involved for the arson attack. “We know this incident go cause plenty concern for community, and officers still dey for scene to carry out urgent enquiries,” Jackson talk. “We dey look for three suspects for this early stage. No arrest don happen yet, and we dey urge anybody wey get information to contact us as soon as possible.”
The ambulances belong to Hatzola, Jewish charity wey volunteer dem run since 1979 to provide free medical transportation and emergency response for North London. Shomrim, non-profit organization wey dey operate neighborhood watch for Golders Green, talk say dem hear loud explosions early Monday morning. The group explain say oxygen tanks for inside the ambulances cause the explosions, not bomb or explosive device. Shomrim confirm say Northwest London facility wey Hatzola run still dey fully operational despite the attack.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting talk for social media say: “This na sickening attack on Jewish ambulances. Thank goodness no injuries appear. Anybody wey get information suppose come forward to Police. We must stand together against antisemitic hatred.” Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis also talk for statement say the arson attacks against Hatzola ambulances na “particularly sickening assault – not only on the Jewish community, but on the values we share as a society.”
Golders Green ward councillor Dean Cohen wey dey for the scene talk to Jewish News say the fact say the incident happen for “car park of a synagogue na particularly chilling and go send shockwaves through our community at a time of already heightened fears over antisemitism for UK.” Cohen add say: “It’s beyond time for the authorities to wake and do more to tackle this hate running riot.”
Community Security Trust (CST), charity wey dey monitor antisemitism for UK, talk say dem dey assist police for their enquiries. Their statement talk say: “We dey aware of multiple Hatzola ambulances wey dem deliberately set alight for London. This get obvious comparison to similar antisemitic arson attacks recently for Belgium and Netherlands. No injuries don report for this time and we dey help @MPSBarnet with their enquiries.”
Local resident and councillor Shimon Ryde talk to BBC say: “It’s very shocking, it’s not unexpected. The Jewish community dey very aware of the danger we dey live in.” London Fire Brigade talk say around 40 firefighters respond to the fires and multiple cylinders for the vehicles explode, cause windows for nearby flats to break. Road closures still dey for the area as investigation continue.
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