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The government will fund the replacement of four Jewish community ambulances after they were destroyed in an arson attack.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting also pledged that staff from London Ambulance Service will support Hatzola – the charity that provides the ambulance service in Golders Green – to ensure emergency callouts are covered.
The moves comes after the four ambulances were torched by three suspects last night.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed the incident is being treated as an antisemitic hate crime, with CCTV showing three individuals setting light to an ambulance in the early hours of Monday morning.
There were no injuries reported in the attack on the Jewish Community Ambulance service in Highfield Road, Golders Green, north-west London, around 1.45am, and no arrests have yet been made.
Follow the latest developments below
11h ago
Starmer meets Jewish leaders as community voices safety concerns
Sir Keir Starmer met Jewish community leaders in Downing Street to discuss the Golders Green incident.
Asked if Jews in Britain should feel safe at the moment, after the meeting Michael Wegier, chief executive of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, said: “Yes, we should feel safe but anxious, I think.
“There’s a very long, thousands of years, history of Jews who have, at the same time, felt anxious but felt resilient.
“I think resilience is the key word I would use to describe what the Jewish community needs now.
“I don’t think any of us would say we feel as safe as we did five years ago. There’s clearly been a decline, the figures show that.
“I am not sensing hysteria or panic in the Jewish community. The resilience is cutting through. But I think I have to be honest, we are feeling less safe than we did a few years ago.”
11h ago
Police ‘stepping up support’
Detective Chief Superintendent Luke Williams said the Metropolitan Police will be “stepping up” support for Jewish communities across London following the attack.
He said: “We have already spoken to local community and faith leaders and will continue that work today. A specific policing plan focused on key community locations across the area is under way and will continue beyond the coming days as we move towards Passover in early April.
“This attack comes at a time when fears are already heightened given global events and recent attacks targeting Jewish communities in other parts of Europe.
“The Met Police stands shoulder to shoulder with our partners and communities. Together we take a zero-tolerance approach to hate crime.
“We are stepping up our support to Jewish communities across London to engage, offer reassurance and take practical action to protect people and property.”
13h ago
Counter-terror police are leading the investigation
Counter-terror police are leading the investigation into the arson attack on Jewish community ambulances in north London.
In an update from the scene shortly before midday today, police said that counter-terror police are leading but the arson attack has not been declared a terrorist incident.
They also refused to confirm reports that an Iranian-backed terrorist organisation had taken responsibility for the attack.
They said they were working to establish the veracity of claims that an emerging terrorist group named Ashab al-Yamin may have been responsible.
13h ago
Police and fire brigade to speak to the media shortly
We’re shortly expecting to hear from the Met Police and the London Fire Brigade in Golders Green
14h ago
Hatzola: Service unbroken after ambulances set on fire
Laurence Blitz, speaking on behalf of Hatzola alongside Wes Streeting, described the incident as “shocking in the extreme.”
He praised the emergency services who responded, calling their work “magnificent,” and expressed gratitude for the replacement ambulances that have been provided on loan.
Blitz added: “Our phones haven’t stopped. Our volunteers are responding to call-outs, and our service continues unbroken.”
14h ago
Government will fund four replacement ambulances
The London Ambulance Service will be providing additional support in Golders Green and the Government will fund four replacement ambulances after the “appalling” attack on Jewish community ambulances, Wes Streeting said.
The Health Secretary made the announcement while attending the scene of the arson attack.
“Those responsible for this attack must know that the Jewish community will not face up to this hatred alone,” he said.
“The whole country will stand with them.”
14h ago
Kemi Badenoch: Britain must stand against antisemitism
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said that “all of us need to make it clear in our words and actions that Britain will not tolerate antisemitism”.
She added that members of the Golders Green community told her “just last week” that they live in fear of “constant attacks.”
14h ago
Latest images from the scene
14h ago
BMA condemns arson attack on Jewish community ambulances
The British Medical Association (BMA) criticised “deliberate attacks on healthcare services” as “reprehensible” after Jewish community ambulances were set on fire in London.
BMA council chairman Dr Tom Dolphin said: “We are appalled to see this attack on ambulances that provide an important service to the Jewish community in north London.
“Antisemitism is abhorrent, and deliberate attacks on healthcare services are reprehensible, and this horrendous incident involves both. It is a relief that no-one was injured, but this makes the attack no less sickening.
“Our thoughts are with the Jewish community in north London and across the UK.”
14h ago
Cowardly attack
London Mayor Sadiq Khan has described the attack as a “cowardly attack on the Jewish community.”
He posted online: “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.”
