London ambulances targeted in anti-semitic attack

Monday 23 March 2026 - 12:00

London police are investigating an anti-Semitic attack in which four ambulances belonging to the Jewish Community Ambulance service, known as Hatzolah, were set on fire overnight Sunday into Monday. No injuries were reported, though nearby homes were evacuated as a precaution.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the attack as “deeply shocking,” emphasizing that anti-Semitism has no place in society. The ambulances were located in the Golders Green area of north London, and the fire was extinguished by 3 a.m. Firefighters deployed six vehicles and around forty personnel to contain the blaze, which caused explosions in ambulance engines and shattered windows of a nearby building.

The Metropolitan Police are treating the incident as a hate crime and are reviewing surveillance footage and online videos to identify three potential suspects, according to lead investigator Sarah Jackson. Images shared by British media show three ambulances completely burned and a fourth damaged.

Community leaders denounced the attack. Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis called it “particularly vile,” noting that Hatzolah volunteers dedicate themselves to saving lives regardless of faith. The charity Shomrim North West London described the incident as a “targeted and deeply concerning act affecting a vital emergency service.”

Health Secretary Wes Streeting also condemned the attack, calling for unity against anti-Semitic hatred. Anti-Semitic incidents in the UK have been rising in recent years, with the Community Security Trust reporting 3,700 incidents in 2025, the second-highest annual total recorded.