Newborn taken to hospital after alleged arson attack on Jewish family home

A newborn baby was taken to hospital after an alleged burglary and arson attack at a Jewish family home in Stamford Hill, where Shomrim volunteers helped rescue the family from the smoke-filled property.

The incident happened on Tuesday morning. According to Shomrim, a man forced his way into the house while the parents and their baby were upstairs.

The family locked themselves inside a bedroom as the intruder allegedly set fire to the kitchen before barricading himself inside.

Shomrim said its volunteers arrived within a minute of being called and evacuated the family from the building.

The baby was then taken by Hatzola to Homerton Hospital after suffering smoke inhalation. No other injuries have been reported.

A Shomrim spokesperson said: “Shomrim were called urgently by the family.

“A burglar had kicked open their front door with a family, Mum, Dad and baby upstairs.

“Whilst they locked themselves in a bedroom in terror, the burglar set fire to the kitchen and barricaded himself in the burning kitchen using the kitchen table.

“Shomrim were on scene in under a minute and evacuated the family from the smoke-filled house.

“The newborn baby was rushed to Homerton Hospital via Hatzola suffering from smoke inhalation.”

The spokesperson added that the suspect was arrested by Metropolitan Police officers at the scene and said emergency services had “complimented Shomrim on their bravery, averting what could have been a much more serious incident”.

A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said: “LFB did attend, but the fire was extinguished before our arrival.”

Jewish News has contacted the Metropolitan Police for comment.