AN ARSON attack on Jewish ambulances has sparked “copycat” fears – as a former top terror cop warns Iran sleeper cells have “infiltrated” the UK.
MI5 are probing links to an Iranian terror group after four vehicles were torched in the early hours yesterday in Golders Green, North London.
Terrified locals were awakened by loud explosions as flames ripped through the ambulances belonging to volunteer service Hatzola.
Six fire engines and 40 firefighters rushed to the scene, near a synagogue, at around 1.45am before alerting cops, who quickly launched a probe.
The three suspects, seen in stark footage of the incident, remain at large – as counter-terror cops lead the investigation.
Police stressed the attack is not being treated as a terrorist incident at this stage, but as a hate crime.
However, there are fears further attacks could be carried out in the UK by sleeper cells of fanatics loyal to the Tehran regime.
Issuing a stark warning, Chris Phillips, former head of the National Counter Terrorism Office, urged the UK to be wary of “copycat incidents”.
He said: “The Iranian regime has infiltrated our country and has put sleeper cells in place here.
“It is hardly surprising when you consider how many people we have allowed in. We have got to be wary about copycat incidents.”
In the aftermath of the incident the Met Police said it was aware of an online claim from a group taking responsibility for the attack.
Enquiries to establish the accuracy of Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia (HAYI)’s claim remain ongoing, the force added.
The extremist group’s name translates to “The Islamic Movement of the Companions of the Right”.
It has claimed responsibility for a string of arson attacks targeting Jewish sites across Europe, including in Belgium and the Netherlands.
Parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee chair said Iran often uses proxies for attacks abroad to make it difficult for cops to detect.
Labour peer Kevan Jones explained the regime target the Jewish community “not directly, but through proxies”.
THE SUN SAYS
WHETHER the arson attack on four Jewish-run ambulances was directly orchestrated by Iran or not, it has all the hallmarks of terrorism.
Blowing up those vehicles was designed to strike fear into the heart of a community which has been subjected to a campaign of hate for nearly two years.
Whoever was responsible wanted to send an ideological message of threat and intimidation to Jews everywhere.
What is particularly sickening is that the ambulances belonged to a volunteer service which has helped save the lives of people of ALL faiths and backgrounds.
For many British Jews yesterday’s attack may have been frightening but not surprising.
They have endured months of hate marchers calling for global intifada against them and for the only Jewish state in the world to be wiped out.
In Margate, an “art exhibition” openly displays disgusting cartoons showing Jews eating babies. The artist called yesterday’s incident a “false flag”.
One in five students say they wouldn’t share a house with a Jew.
Two men were killed in a terrorist attack at a Manchester synagogue.
This all adds up to the most prolonged attack on Jews since the rise of Hitler in the 1930s.
What is both troubling and shameful is that these outrages have been met by politicians with meaningless platitudes.
Or, worse, a collective shrug of indifference.
He told BBC Radio 4’s Today: “What you are dealing with here is not necessarily just organised crime groups, but people who are just paid.
“It is quite clear the Iranians don’t care about what you call collateral damage if people were harmed.
“I would caution, though, with this attack, that the group that’s claimed credit for it, Ashab al-Yamin, is a new group. It only appeared in March.
“It’s claimed responsibility for attacks on Jewish schools in Amsterdam and Rotterdam, for example.”
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said “it’s really important that we all stand together” after speaking with Jewish community leaders.
He said: “This is a horrific antisemitic attack. And of course, my thoughts, I think all of our thoughts, will be with those in the vicinity…
“… the residents who are understandably very concerned, and the Jewish community across the country deeply concerned.
“But antisemitism has no place in our society and it’s really important that we all stand together at a moment like this.”
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood called the attack “so warped it defies words”.
Hatzola is a non-profit organisation that provides free emergency medical care and transport to hospitals for Jewish communities.
Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis called it a “particularly sickening assault – not only on the Jewish community, but on the values we share as a society”.
He took to X to say: “At a time when Jewish communities around the world are facing a growing pattern of these violent attacks…
“… we will meet this moment with shared resolve and stand together against hatred and intimidation.”
Commander Helen Flanagan, Head of Counter Terrorism Policing London, urged anyone with more information on the attack to come forward.
She said: “We’re aware this attack has caused a great amount of concern amongst the Jewish and wider community in the area.
“But I want to reassure the public that we have officers working around the clock to identify those responsible.
“We’ve already gathered a large amount of CCTV footage from the local area and taken a number of statements from witnesses.
“We thank the local community for their ongoing support as we continue with this investigation.”
