Firebomb attack on Jewish volunteer ambulances a ‘war on humanity’

Four ambulances belonging to a Jewish volunteer service have been set on fire in an antisemitic attack outside a London synagogue.

Four emergency vehicles in the Hatzola Northwest’s fleet were firebombed at around 1.40am on Monday morning on Highfield Road in Golders Green.

Three suspects remain at large and the fire is being treated as an ‘anti-Semitic hate crime’, the Met Police said.

Footage shared on social media shows three hooded figures walking towards the parked ambulances before flames erupt from the site.

Other videos show the ambulances engulfed in the blaze with loud explosions coming from gas cannisters on board.

The synagogue next to the ambulances on Highfield Road was damaged in the attack with the stain glass windows shattered.

Damon Hoff, the synagogue’s president, said the fire was ‘terrifying’.

He added: ‘There were three huge explosions it was all hands on dock there were hundreds of people on the street.

‘The synagogue had been damaged as well. It seems that one of our local patrols alerted the police. The police got there fast. This is an attack on the Jewish way of life it’s terrifying.’

Dozens of residents were evacuated from their homes, with around 30 taken to a local shelter.

Abigael Levi told Metro she first thought the attack was fireworks.

The mum said: ‘At first I thought it was fireworks I saw the building in flames we head a big explosion we took the kids. We didn’t hear any alarms.

‘We banged on neighbours’ doors. I have children aged two and three. We put them in a shopping  trolley and escaped. It’s extremely scary I don’t feel safe.’

The Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis called the attack a ‘particularly sickening assault’.

He added: ‘The targeting of Hatzola by people so committed to terror, hatred and the desecration of life is a most painful illustration of the ongoing battle between those who sanctify life and those who seek to destroy it.

‘At a time when Jewish communities around the world are facing a growing pattern of these violent attacks, we will meet this moment with shared resolve and stand together against hatred and intimidation.’

The Prime Minister called it ‘deeply shocking’, saying that antisemitism has ‘no place in our society’.

Speaking at the scene of the attack, Health Secretary Wes Streeting announced the government would replace the four ambulances.

The Hatzola is a volunteer, non-profit, organisation that provides free emergency care and transport for the Jewish community.

The Hatzola has served the Golders Green community – one of the largest in the UK – since 1979.

The area’s councillor Dean Cohen – who was woken up to news of the attac – said it was a ‘particularly chilling’ attack.

He told Metro: ‘Residents were being evacuated. They were shaken, shocked, frightened.

‘Antisemitism in this country has been growing and festering.

‘It was just a matter of time before there would be an attack in Golders Green.

‘As long as politicians are not stamping it out and allowing it to fester. As long as the media allow it to be fuelled, this will continue.’

Finchley and Golders Green MP Sarah Sackman called the attack ‘cowardly and despicable’.

She added: ‘It is horrific and will cause intense alarm. I’m clear antisemitism has no place in our society and the perpetrators must feel the full force of the law.’

Supt Sarah Jackson, who leads policing in the area, said: ‘We know this incident will cause a great deal of community concern and officers remain on scene to carry out urgent enquiries.

‘We are in the process of examining CCTV and are aware of online footage. We believe we are looking for three suspects at this early stage.

‘There have been no arrests yet, and we would urge anyone with information to please contact us as soon as possible.’

The Chief executive of the Community Security Trust, a British charity which protects the Jewish community, Mark Gardner said: ‘The antisemitic arson attack against Hatzola ambulances in Golders Green has obvious comparison to similar recent attacks in Belgium and the Netherlands. N

‘No injuries have been reported at this time and we are helping police with their enquiries. CST thanks all those who responded from 999 emergency agencies; and Shomrim, Hatzolah and our own CST volunteers.’

The London Fire Brigade said six fire engines and 40 firefighters attended the scene at Highfield Road, with the blaze brought under control by 3.06am.

Jewish community leaders demand authorities ‘wake up’ over antisemitism ‘running riot’

Leading Rabbi Yitzchak Schochet of Mill Hill Synagogue described the firebomb attack as ‘terrorism plan and simple’.

The Rabbi said the Hatzola effectively saved his newborn granddaughter’s life when they responded to a call within three minutes after she stopped breathing on a Friday night.

He told Metro: ‘To target ambulances is a war on humanity itself. This is what happens when antisemitism is tolerated or excused.

‘We have created an environment where Jewish people feel unsafe. This is not who we are as a country.’

Rabbi Schochet added: ‘If one person dies because these ambulances were out of action, that is on the perpetrators and all those who have tolerated this for too long.’

Golders Green councillor Peter Zinken told Metro his constituents were horrified and upset over the attack.

He said the violence had come about because antisemitism had become ‘somehow acceptable’.

Cllr Zinken said it raised questions about the security measures in place to protect the Jewish community.

He added: ‘Reassurance patrols are spin to make people feel better and feel protected.

‘What this incident demonstrates is that such patrols achieve nothing at all in terms of actual protection.

‘We have 40 or 50 synagogues in the immediate local area. How are we supposed to protect them against people who feel entitled to burn down ambulances?’

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