“It is too early for me to attribute last night’s attack in Golders Green to the Iranian state, that is rightly for the counter terrorism investigation to determine through their investigation, but whoever was responsible for the attack, the impact is serious.
“We believe three suspects were involved and we are pursuing all lines of enquiry at pace, and we are making good progress, including an online claim of responsibility by an Islamist group who have claimed other attacks across Europe and have potential Iranian state links.”
CCTV footage timestamped 1:36am showed three hooded suspects approach the Hatzola ambulances, located in a car park of a local synagogue, and pour accelerant on the vehicles, before igniting them and running away.
Rowley went on: “An attack on [the Hatzola ambulance service] is not just an attack on the Jewish community, it’s an attack on all of us. There is no ‘us and them’. There is only an attack on a British community.”
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(L-R) Lady Valerie and Sir Ephraim Mirvis, Sir Gerald Ronson CBE and Dame Gail Ronson (Blake Ezra)(C) Blake Ezra Photography 2026 @BlakeEzraPhoto @mitzvahs.uk info@blakeezraphotography.com
He added that he believes the partnership between the CST and the Met is “stronger than ever”.
The CST’s “reach, insight, information network, is unmatched,” he said. “We don’t seek to replicate it, we aim to combine your strength with ours.”
Rowley said the Met “fully understands” the seriousness of the threats facing the Jewish community and is “responding with the highest level of operational commitment we can”.
He concluded: “We stand with you, not just in words but visibly daily action.”
Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor confirmed the deployment of 264 officers on Tuesday morning, as well as specialist assets including drones and mounted officers.
Speaking outside Scotland Yard on Tuesday, Taylor said: “The Jewish community have put up with a lot of these types of incidents over the last few years, and whilst they’re very strong and resilient, they are clearly very frightened, and we absolutely understand that.”
The Met, he said, would be “working with Jewish schools, Jewish synagogues, to ensure the protective security measures we’ve got in place are the best they can be”.
