British teen told not to enter any synagogue after pleading guilty to arson attack

A teenage boy has been bailed after pleading guilty to an arson attack on a synagogue claimed by an Iranian sleeper cell operating across Europe.

The 17-year-old British national from Brent, north-west London, who has not been named because of his age, appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.

He admitted to his charge of arson not endangering life.

A group that calls itself Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia, the Islamic Movement of the Companions of the Right, that is suspected to be Iran-backed, has claimed responsibility for most of the attacks, along with other attacks in Europe, since March 9.

Footage was posted online of a figure in dark clothing setting light to a bottle of liquid and throwing it through a window at Kenton United Synagogue in Harrow late on Saturday.

Jewish charity the Community Security Trust said minor smoke damage to an internal room was caused but there were no injuries or significant structural damage.

At the short hearing, the 17-year-old, who was flanked by two security officers in the dock, spoke only to confirm his personal details and to plead guilty to the charge.

Two family members, including his mother, sat in seats in front of the dock.

District Judge Nina Tempia freed the youth on bail with conditions including to live and sleep at his home and to not enter any synagogue.

She told the defendant: ‘I’m going to grant you bail so that you can be released today.

‘If you breach these bail conditions you will be arrested by the police.’

A 19-year-old man who was also arrested after the attack has been released on bail pending further inquiries, the Metropolitan Police said.

It came as Sir Keir Starmer said the Government ‘won’t relent in our fight against antisemitism and terror’ after seven people were arrested by Counter Terrorism Police over a conspiracy to commit arson at another Jewish site.

The Metropolitan Police said the suspects were arrested within the past 48 hours over an alleged conspiracy to commit a further arson attack, although the specific target is not yet known.

Since late March there have been arson attacks on Jewish community ambulances in Golders Green, two synagogues and a former Jewish charity, as well as an incident where a drone was flown near the Israeli embassy.

The latest arrests by detectives from Counter-Terrorism Policing London, saw three men aged 24, 25 and 26 held in Harpenden on Sunday, and on Monday a 25-year-old man arrested in Stevenage, as well as a 26-year-old man and two women aged 50 and 59 detained in a car near Birmingham.

The men arrested in Harpenden have been released on bail, while the other four remain in custody, the Metropolitan Police said.

Four Jewish community ambulances were destroyed in an arson attack in Golders Green on March 23, and there have been further attacks at a synagogue in Finchley and a former Jewish charity building in Hendon.

Another incident saw a drone flown near the Israeli embassy in London.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans, the Senior National Co-ordinator of Counter Terrorism Policing, said: ‘We’ve made very clear that we will be relentless in our pursuit of anyone involved in carrying out or planning these arson attacks.

‘Our message is clear, we will not tolerate this intimidation of our communities, and will pursue those responsible. One of our key lines of inquiry is whether criminal proxies – that is to say people being paid money to carry out a crime, are being used to commit any of these arsons.

‘While our investigations into this are still ongoing, 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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