British counter-terrorism police are investigating an arson attack on a shop in an area of London with a large Jewish population, authorities said on Saturday.
The incident occurred late Friday in Hendon, in the northwest of the capital. Police said a man was seen approaching a row of shops carrying a plastic bag containing what was later found to be three bottles filled with fluid. He placed the bag next to the building and lit the items; the bottles failed to fully ignite and the man fled the scene. The attack caused minor damage and no one was injured.
Authorities said they were keeping an open mind about the motive and were not treating the incident as a terrorist attack, but counter-terrorism officers are leading the investigation because of similarities with recent incidents. Detective Chief Superintendent Luke Williams, who leads policing in the area, said: “I know this latest incident will add to fears in the community.” He added that police patrols, including armed officers, would be increased.
The UK has seen a spate of similar incidents in recent weeks. There was an arson attack on a synagogue in nearby Finchley on Wednesday. In late March, four Jewish community ambulances were torched in Golders Green, also in north London. Little-known group Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiya (HAYI), which has alleged links to Iran, claimed responsibility for the attacks on the synagogue and ambulances, according to SITE Intelligence Group; the group previously claimed similar attacks in Belgium and the Netherlands.
Edited by: Wesley Dockery