Synagogue ‘Firebombed’ in London as Jewish Community Rocked by Fourth ‘Attack’ in a Month

Another North London synagogue has been targeted in an attempted arson attack, with Kenton United Synagogue becoming the fourth Jewish site hit in a month. The Mail has more.

Video footage shows the flashing blue lights of police cars blocking the road at the scene, with fire crews also present. 

A cordon was set up outside the synagogue, on Shaftesbury Avenue in Kenton, in the early hours of Sunday morning and remains in place. Forensics teams are also at the scene. 

Early reports had suggested the incendiary device smashed a medical room window, causing internal damage to the building. 

However the attack caused only “minor smoke damage” and there was “no significant structural damage” to the synagogue. No injuries have been reported. 

Ashab Al-Yamin has claimed responsibility for the attack, releasing video footage via pro-Iran Telegram channels showing a man walking up to synagogue with what appears to be petrol bomb and flinging it at the site.

A spokesperson for the Community Security Trust told the Daily Mail: “We are aware of another attempted arson, this time targeting a synagogue in North London, following similar recent incidents targeting the Jewish community in Finchley, Golders Green and Hendon. 

“On this occasion there was minor smoke damage to an internal room, but there were no injuries and no significant structural damage.” …

Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis said: “Last night yet another synagogue, this time in Kenton, was targeted in a cowardly arson attack. 

“It follows the attack in Finchley on Wednesday and the attempted attack on what was the Jewish Futures building in Hendon on Friday night, making three Jewish sites attacked in London in less than a week. 

“A sustained campaign of violence and intimidation against the Jewish community of the UK is gathering momentum. 

“This sustained attack on our community’s ability to worship and live in safety is an attack on the values that bind us all together. 

“Thank God, no lives have been lost, but we cannot, and must not, wait for that to change before we understand just how dangerous this moment is for all of our society.”

The Campaign Against Antisemitism said the incident marked a “terrifying spate of daily arson attacks on the Jewish community”, add––ing that “Britain is fundamentally a different country now”. 

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