Counter terror cops look at possible foreign influence over attacks on UK Jews
Metropolitan Police Deputy Commissioner Matt Jukes warns of 'foreign interference' converging with radicalisation and hate crime to pose an extraordinary challenge for the capital
Counter-terrorism officers are looking into the possibility that foreign state actors are paying people in this country to carry out attacks on Jewish and diaspora Iranian communities.
Confirmation that this was one of several lines of inquiry came as two of the Metropolitan Police’s most senior officers revealed they are dealing with an “unprecedented level of national security investigations, some with suspected links to foreign states”.
Appearing at a media briefing on Thursday, Deputy Commissioner Matt Jukes and Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans, the Senior National Coordinator for Counter-Terrorism Policing, both highlighted the threat to the Jewish and other communities posed by those feared to be acting for foreign states.
Although the pair stopped short of explicitly stating fears over Iranian influence.
It also emerged that three separate incidents are now being investigated by Counter Terrorism Policing London: an arson attack on the Golders Green Hatzola Jewish community building on 23 March, an attempted arson at Finchley Reform Synagogue in the early hours of 15 April, and an arson attack on the offices of Iran International, a Persian-language media organisation, later the same evening.
While none have been formally declared terrorist incidents, and police are treating them as separate cases, officers acknowledged they are obviously similar in nature, although officers retain an open mind in respect of any motivation behind any of the attacks.
In a wider context, police also confirmed that 28 people have now been arrested in connection with antisemitic hate crimes since the Golders Green attack — including 20 arrests in the two weeks immediately following the incident, among them 13 during the Passover period alone.
Significantly, Jukes issued a broader warning about the threat of foreign interference in the UK — though he was careful to stress he was not commenting directly on the three live investigations when doing so.
On the wider threat landscape, he warned of “foreign interference” converging with radicalisation and hate crime to pose an extraordinary challenge for the capital, while stopping short of explicitly naming Iran.
“We have had to respond to radicalisation and terrorism, and we have seen foreign interference impact the streets of London,” he said. “But we are living through a period where those three threats are absolutely aligned and are exploited.”
Jukes warned that hostile actors were actively seeking to deepen divisions within London’s communities, including by paying individuals to commit crimes — again stressing he was speaking in general terms and making no comment on the specific cases under investigation.
“There are people who would wish to sow greater division in this incredible global city, who will pay individuals — in the way we have seen in other cases, and I make no comment on these specific cases at this point in time — to drive further wedges into our communities when they see what we know are already divisive protests on our streets,” he said. “That is an extraordinary challenge for all of those affected and living through this moment.”
He added a direct warning to those carrying out attacks: “If you act out of hatred and racism and antisemitism, then we’re going to come after you, and you will face the consequences.”
Jukes also cautioned those tempted by financial reward: “For people who think you can make quick and easy money by committing crimes for others — those who have paid for it will drop them like a stone, and they’ll face justice on their own.”
He pointed to the case of Dylan Earl, who was convicted and is now serving a lengthy prison sentence, as a warning to those influenced by others.
In a media briefing on Thursday, it was also confirmed that two further men were arrested on Wednesday in connection with the Golders Green Hatzola arson attack, both in east London.
One was arrested on suspicion of intent to endanger life through arson, the other on suspicion of conspiracy to endanger life through arson.
Three men have previously been charged in relation to the attack, and a fourth was arrested and bailed.
Evans, the Senior National Coordinator for Counter-Terrorism Policing, also addressed speculation over the Embassy of Israel following claims circulating online of an incident at the Kensington, west London location in the past 24 hours.
World Repatriation Agency Israel
She confirmed there had been no incident at the embassy, but added Counter Terrorism Policing was working closely with embassy security staff in relation to “potential security issues” at the location and providing appropriate advice and support.
Two men and a 16-year-old boy were arrested after the attempted arson attack on Iran International’s north-west London offices on Wednesday night.
Metropolitan Police officers on patrol in Wembley at around 8.30pm responded to reports that a burning container had been thrown towards a building.
The container landed in a car park, where the fire went out, and there were no reports of damage or injuries.
Armed police pursued a black SUV in which the suspects were seen leaving the scene.
The vehicle later crashed on Ballards Lane, Finchley, where the boy and both men, aged 19 and 21, were arrested on suspicion of arson endangering life. Nearby homes were briefly evacuated over concerns about the contents of the vehicle.
The Met are aware of claims of responsibility by the Iran-linked Islamist group Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia for the attempted arson attacks.
The group, which has claimed other attacks across Europe, posted videos on Telegram on Wednesday about the two incidents, according to terror group monitor Site Intelligence.
Evans said the claims were being treated as one line of inquiry among many.
“We are clearly aware of that group, and as you’ve rightly outlined, the incidents across Europe and the claims that have been made on various different channels,” she said.
“Naturally, that is one of our many lines of inquiry, and there are many others. We remain open-minded at this stage around both the claims that have been made, and are working on our understanding of what that means — both in terms of the group themselves, and more broadly, what that means in the international context.”
Evans also said the scale of current investigations was unlike anything seen before.
“We’re dealing with an unprecedented level of national security investigations, some with suspected links to foreign states, and many of those with dangerous and often reckless intentions,” she said. “We are also seeing hate crime and discord within communities, which adds to this wider picture.”
Evans said counter-terrorism policing would be “relentless” in pursuing those responsible.
“My message to anyone who is part of this type of activity, or thinking about becoming part of such an activity: you should know that you will be caught and you will face justice. Our officers will continue to proactively identify those involved.”
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