Two more arrests in investigation over arson on Jewish site – bringing total to nine
The latest arrests are a 19-year-old man and a 26-year-old man who were arrested in Watford on Tuesday
Two more arrests have been made by Counter Terrorism Police investigating an alleged conspiracy to commit arson at a site connected to the Jewish community, the Metropolitan Police said.
A total of nine people have now been arrested over the past three days as part of an ongoing investigation.
The latest arrests are a 19-year-old man and a 26-year-old man who were arrested in Watford on Tuesday.
Both men remain in custody, police said.
Those arrested are suspected of being involved in planning an arson attack at an unknown venue related to the Jewish community.
Seven others who were arrested for conspiracy to commit arson remain under investigation and have been released on bail, with strict conditions.
These include three men arrested in Harpenden on April 19 aged 24, 26 and 26.
A 25-year-old man was also arrested in Stevenage on April 20.
A 26-year-old man and two women aged 50 and 59 were detained in a car near Birmingham on Monday in connection with the alleged conspiracy.
It comes as Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer pledged an unrelenting fight against antisemitism after the latest spate of attacks.
“We won’t relent in our fight against antisemitism and terror. Any perpetrators will feel the full force of the law,” Sir Keir wrote on X.
Since late March, there have been arson attacks on Jewish community ambulances in Golders Green, north-west London, a synagogue and a former Jewish charity, as well as an incident where a drone was flown near the Israeli embassy.
An attempted arson attack was also carried out on April 15 at Finchley Reform Synagogue, and at about 8.30pm outside the offices of a Persian media company, both in north-west London.
On Tuesday, a 17-year-old boy pleaded guilty at Westminster Magistrates’ Court to arson not endangering life following an attack on Kenton United Synagogue in Harrow on Saturday.
In a written summary of the case, District Judge Nina Tempia was told CCTV footage showed the defendant climbing over the boundary wall at the synagogue.
He “appeared to throw something at a window to break it, before lighting an object with his left hand and throwing it with his right hand through the window”, the judge was told.
Two other suspects are outstanding in the investigation, the court heard.
In total, 23 people have been arrested over the series of attacks.
Senior national co-ordinator of Counter Terrorism Policing Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans said: “Our investigations continue at pace, and we are continuing to identify and arrest suspects who we believe were involved, or planning, the recent arson attacks in north-west London.
“We’ve now had the first conviction in relation to this recent spate of arson attacks and seven others have been charged. We remain determined to identify, arrest and charge all those who have been involved in the recent criminal activity.
“My message to anyone even considering getting involved in this type of activity is this, the stakes are high and it is absolutely not worth the risk.”
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