British police on Monday confirmed the detention of two teenagers over an arson attack on a synagogue in London, the latest in a series of incidents targeting the Jewish community, as investigators examine possible links to Iran.
A bottle containing an accelerant was thrown through a window of the Kenton United Synagogue on Shaftesbury Avenue in Kenton, northwest London, shortly after midnight on Sunday, the Metropolitan Police said. The building sustained minor damage and no injuries were reported.
Deputy Commissioner Matt Jukes said a 17-year-old boy and a 19-year-old man were detained overnight. He added that 15 arrests have now been made in connection with six recent cases involving Jewish-linked sites across the capital.
Among those incidents was a March 23 arson attack in Golders Green that destroyed four ambulances belonging to a Jewish charity. Other cases include petrol-filled bottles thrown at a synagogue in Finchley, an attempted attack on a building in Hendon previously used by a Jewish charity, and suspicious items discovered near the Israeli embassy in Kensington Gardens.
Authorities are also examining claims by a group calling itself Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia (“Islamic Movement of the Companions of the Right”), which has said it carried out several of the attacks. Officials stress that the group’s role remains unverified, while possible connections to Iran are under investigation.
Police Probe Foreign Involvement
Officials say the pattern raises concerns about coordinated activity involving foreign actors.
Vicki Evans said investigators are assessing whether tactics linked to Tehran—such as using criminal intermediaries—could be a factor, noting that individuals may be recruited to carry out attacks for payment.
Jukes described the situation as part of what he called “a modern hybrid war fought by proxies,” adding that some suspects may have been motivated by what appeared to be “quick and easy money.”
He warned the incidents amount to “a concerted campaign against Londoners, against Britons, and against British Jewish communities in particular,” while commending the community for its “incredible resilience.”
Jewish Leaders Warn Of Escalation
Reacting to the latest attack, Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis called it “cowardly” and said a “campaign of violence and intimidation” against Jews was gathering pace.
“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,” he said.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer was “appalled” and pledged that those responsible would be brought to justice, describing the attacks as “abhorrent.”
Officials stressed that the investigation continues as authorities increase security and seek to determine whether foreign actors were involved in attacks possibly backed by Iran.
