British counter-terrorism officers are investigating an arson attempt at a shop in Hendon, northwest London, police said on Saturday. The attack took place late on Friday in an area with a large Jewish population.
Officers said a man was seen approaching a row of shops carrying a plastic bag containing three bottles filled with liquid. He placed the bag against the building, ignited the bottles and then fled. The bottles did not fully catch fire; the blaze caused only minor damage and there were no injuries.
Authorities said they were keeping an open mind about motive and were not treating the incident as a terrorist attack, but counter-terrorism detectives have taken the lead because of similarities with recent episodes. Detective Chief Superintendent Luke Williams, who oversees policing in the area, said: “I know this latest incident will add to fears in the community.” He added that patrols, including armed officers, would be increased.
The incident follows a series of similar attacks in north London in recent weeks. A synagogue in nearby Finchley was subject to an arson attack on Wednesday, and in late March four ambulances operated by the Jewish community were torched in Golders Green. SITE Intelligence Group reported that a little-known group calling itself Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiya (HAYI), which is said to have alleged links to Iran, claimed responsibility for the attacks on the synagogue and the ambulances and has previously claimed similar incidents in Belgium and the Netherlands.
Edited by Wesley Dockery