Two men have denied an arson attack on synagogue.
Dominic Charles-Turner, 31, and Moses Edwards, 45, are accused of setting fire to East London Synagogue in Nelson Street, Whitechapel on May 5.
It is alleged there were two explosions followed by fire at the entrance and gates of the synagogue, which had been closed since 2020 but still displayed Jewish symbols.
London Fire Brigade were called at 5.11am within minutes of the attack by two people wearing tracksuits with hoods up.
Six wine bottles were recovered from the scene, two badly damaged by fire and some later found to contain petrol accelerant.
Turner and Edwards, both of east London, appeared at the Old Bailey on Friday before Judge Mark Lucraft KC.
They pleaded not guilty to destroying or damaging property belonging to Federation Synagogue and being “reckless as to whether life would be endangered”.
Judge Lucraft set a further hearing for January 22 ahead of a trial from April 28 next year lasting up to three weeks.
The defendants were remanded into custody.
At the time of the fire, the former synagogue was in the process of being bought by a Muslim community group with plans to convert it to a mosque and community centre.
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