London Ambulance Arson Guilty Pleas
Four Men Plead Guilty to Arson Attack on London Jewish Ambulances
Anonymous
Key Points
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Ali was 17 at the time of his arrest and had been in contact in February with someone about buying a blue Toyota Avensis; he had online cost research on ambulances and WhatsApp messages with a co-defendant regarding the purchase.
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The four ambulances were valued at £240,000–£250,000 each, and four charging stations/cables were damaged, costing about £5,000 each.
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The arson attack occurred in the early hours of March 23 in Golders Green, drawing a large emergency response (six fire engines and about 40 firefighters were involved).
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A pro-Iranian group, Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiyya (HAYI), claimed responsibility for related arson attacks, and police were examining possible Iranian links to the incidents.
Four young British men pleaded guilty to a targeted arson attack on four Jewish ambulances in Golders Green, north London, in March that caused over £1 million in damage, The Sun reported. Hamza Iqbal, Rehan Khan, Judex Atshatshi, and Saif Ali admitted to destroying or damaging property while recklessly endangering lives in the attack on Hatzolah, a volunteer emergency service serving the Orthodox Jewish community.
The blaze destroyed four ambulances valued at £240,000 to £250,000 each, damaged charging stations, nearby flats, and a synagogue, according to Radio Royal. Counter-terrorism detectives led the investigation into the incident, and sentencing is expected in spring 2027.
The Attack and Damage in Golders Green
The arson occurred in the early hours of March 23 in Golders Green, a heavily Jewish area of north London, Oxford Mail reported. Six fire engines and approximately 40 firefighters responded to the blaze. The four Hatzolah ambulances were a total loss, and charging stations worth about £5,000 each were also damaged along with neighboring properties.
Evidence of Premeditation and Online Research
Court records show Saif Ali, who was 17 at the time of arrest, had been in contact in February with someone about purchasing a blue Toyota Avensis vehicle, The Sun reported. Ali conducted online research about ambulance costs and exchanged WhatsApp messages with a co-defendant regarding the vehicle purchase. This evidence suggested the attack was planned rather than spontaneous.
Pro-Iranian Group Claims Connection to Arson Spree
A pro-Iranian group called Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiyya claimed responsibility for related arson attacks, KMFM reported. Police examined possible Iranian links to a broader series of incidents targeting the Jewish community. The investigation into whether foreign actors coordinated the Golders Green attack remained ongoing at the time of the guilty pleas.
Hatzolah's Role Serving the Orthodox Jewish Community
Hatzolah is a volunteer-led emergency medical service that exclusively serves Britain's Orthodox Jewish community in north London. The organization operates as an independent charity and provides rapid response ambulance care. The targeting of Hatzolah's ambulances near a synagogue intensified concerns about rising anti-Semitic violence in the area, according to community leaders.
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