A suspected arson attack took place in London early on Monday, with locals reporting explosions in the suburb of Golders Green, an area that is home to a large number of Jews and a volunteer organization providing Jewish people with hospital transport services.
Details are scarce at the moment. However, police have labelled the suspected attack as “antisemitic” and are investigating the incident as a hate crime.
The Golders Green area has a large Jewish population since 1979 and is home to non-profit Hatzolah, a volunteer organization that provides medical emergency and hospital transport services to Jews.
Here's what we know so far
According to a report by the BBC, a local resident heard an "explosion" shortly after 1.30 am GMT, claiming that four ambulances had been set on fire.
"We've all been woken up... by arsonists targeting the ambulances in our community," a resident was quoted as saying.
BBC also reported that that firefighters from the London Fire Brigade (LFB) are at the site, and efforts are underway to tackle the incident.
The Metropolitan Police are also probing the incident, and cops have confirmed that four ambulances were torched.
"An investigation has been launched after four ambulances belonging to the Jewish Community Ambulance service were set on fire in Golders Green," the Metropolitan Police was quoted as saying by Reuters.
"Officers remain on scene and the arson attack is being treated as an antisemitic hate crime," the statement by the police added.
As of writing this, no injuries or fatalities had been reported in the attack.
Visuals shared on social media showed firefighters battling a large blaze as explosions were heard.
Mint could not interpedently verify the video.
‘Great deal of community concern’
AFP, meanwhile, reported that houses close to the site of the attack in Golders Green had been evacuated out of precaution.
"We know this incident will cause a great deal of community concern and officers remain on scene to carry out urgent enquiries," Met Police superintendent Sarah Jackson was quoted as saying by the news agency.
"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," she said, adding that no arrest has been made thus far.
Monday's attack comes days after a Jewish school was targeted in the Dutch capital of Amsterdam on Saturday. Earlier, on Friday, another antisemitic attack was reported from Rotterdam, where police arrested four teenagers over an explosion that sparked a fire at a synagogue.
