British police are probing a series of arson and attempted arson attacks on Jewish sites in London, with counter-terrorism officers investigating a possible link to Iranian proxies. The Metropolitan Police force has deployed additional officers, both uniformed and in plainclothes, to northwest London following a spate of incidents over the past month. These attacks include synagogues, ambulances belonging to a Jewish charity, and a Persian-language media organization critical of Iran's government.
The latest incident involved an attempted arson at Kenton United Synagogue in Harrow, which caused minor smoke damage but no injuries. This follows a similar attempted firebombing at a northwest London synagogue the previous week. Police are also investigating an attempted attack on what was described as the Jewish Futures building in Hendon.
The escalating incidents have drawn sharp criticism from Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis, who stated that the Jewish community is facing a "sustained campaign of violence" and that these attacks appear to be "gathering momentum." He emphasized that attacks on the Jewish community are attacks on Britain as a whole.
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The UK government has previously accused Iran of employing criminal proxies to carry out attacks on European soil, targeting both opposition media outlets and the Jewish community. In one instance, a group posted a video claiming responsibility for an attack on Israel's embassy in London using drones carrying dangerous substances.
While no injuries have been reported in the recent blazes, the intensity and pattern of the attacks have raised significant concerns among authorities and the community. The police investigation aims to determine the perpetrators and their motives behind these coordinated acts.
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