Two people have been arrested in connection with an alleged arson attack in Golders Green, which occurred just days before two Jewish men were stabbed in the same area.
The incident occurred on Limes Avenue in the early hours of last Monday morning, with officers called to the scene later that day to reports of a fire at the display, which commemorates slain Iranian dissidents.
The wall also stands approximately 100 metres away from the scene of a separate arson attack, which saw four Hatzola ambulances set ablaze on March 23. Four people are now due in court in relation to that attack.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed that two people, 46-year-old man and a 38-year-old woman, were arrested in Romford on Monday in relation to the investigation, which is being led by Counter Terror Police. Both were arrested on suspicion of arson.
Commander Helen Flanagan, head of Counter Terror Police London,
said: “We are committed to protecting vulnerable communities in the capital. Detectives have been conducting extensive enquiries since this incident was reported to us last week and these two arrests are the result of that hard work.
“CTP London is working on a number of investigations into incidents that have taken place in north west London since the attack on Hatzola ambulances in Golders Green in March. We have made a total of 30 arrests and nine people have been charged.
“Counter-terrorism officers continue to work closely with our colleagues in the Metropolitan Police in response to the various incidents. We’re providing protective security advice and support to various organisations, community venues, and businesses.
“With the threat level now raised to severe, everyone can play their part to keep themselves and their communities safe. If you have concerns about someone behaving suspiciously, please report it to us. Your information could help us save lives.”
“Since the attack in Golders Green in March, the Met Police has launched the most intensive set of community operations it has ever run.
“We have deployed thousands of additional officer shifts to protect Londoners and reassure communities affected by these incidents. This includes armed police patrols as well as deployments of officers from Project Servator, who are specially trained to spot individuals who may be planning or preparing to commit criminal acts.
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