Hate Crime Probe Launched After Jewish Ambulances Torched in London; Keir Starmer Condemns Attack

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer was among London officials who condemned the burning of four Hatzola Northwest ambulances in Golders Green, north London on Monday, 23 March. Authorities are treating the incident as an arson attack and have labelled it as an antisemitic hate crime.

Starmer emphasised that antisemitism has no place in society. He called on the public to come forward and share any valuable information that can help police apprehend the people behind the attack, The Guardian reported.

'This is a deeply shocking antisemitic arson attack. My thoughts are with the Jewish community who are waking up this morning to this horrific news,' Starmer said in an official statement. 'Antisemitism has no place in our society. Anyone with any information must come forward to the police.'

The burnt ambulances also caused damage to their nearby surroundings. Gas canisters aboard the ambulances resulted in explosions, causing windows of surrounding buildings to break. Four other vehicles were reportedly damaged as a result of the ambulance explosions.

Six fire engines and about 40 firefighters were dispatched to contain the fires. Nearby residents were also evacuated. According to BBC News, nearly 30 people were taken to local shelters. No individual was reportedly injured in the incident.

Attack on Jewish Community

The ambulance fires were believed by officials to be an obvious attack on the Jewish community. Mark Gardner from the Community Security Trust stressed this and added that it was also an attack on the whole of Britain.

'Ambulances being blown up in the middle of the night in London is ... an attack on London, it's also an attack on the UK. And this always gets spoken about in terms of anti-Jewish violence. But I'm British, so it's an attack on Britain as well, and it's important that it's regarded as such,' Gardner said.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan deemed the attack cowardly and sickening. He said it was not just about the Jewish community but society as a whole.

'This is a cowardly attack on the Jewish community. I am in close contact with the police who are stepping up patrols in the area, and I urge anyone with information to come forward. Londoners will never be cowed by this kind of hatred and intimidation,' Khan said.

The same sentiment was shared by Sir Ephraim Mirvis, echoing the sentiments of Khan. He issued his official statement on X.

'The targeting of Hatzola by people so committed to terror, hatred and the desecration of life is a most painful illustration of the ongoing battle between those who sanctify life and those who seek to destroy it,' the UK's chief rabbi posted.

Police Hunt for Suspects Ongoing

Although no arrests have been made as of this writing, police have identified three potential suspects behind the arson according to Supt Sarah Jackson. She shared that they are currently reviewing CCTV footage but have yet to divulge additional details.

'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,' Jackson stated.

The number of antisemitic attacks in Britain has been worsening, particularly after the synagogue attacks in Manchester in October 2025. According to Reuters, there has been a 4% rise in antisemitic incidents in 2025, making it the second-worst year on record.

Last year, there were reportedly 3,700 anti-Jewish incidents in Britain. This was 14% lower than 2023, the time when antisemitism reached record levels following the 7 October 2023 attacks by Hamas on Israel and the subsequent war in Gaza.