Police have made two arrests in connection with the arson attack that destroyed four Hatzolah ambulances in Golders Green, London, early Monday morning. The incident is being investigated as an antisemitic hate crime with possible links to an Iran-connected Islamist group.

A 47-year-old man was detained in northwest London and a 45-year-old in central London on Wednesday morning, both on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life. Officers are searching the addresses of both perpetrators.

The Metropolitan Police has said investigators are examining a possible connection to Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiya — The Islamic Movement of the People of the Right Hand — which made an unsubstantiated claim of responsibility for the attack. The group has claimed credit for similar arson incidents across Europe. Counter-terrorism officers are leading the investigation, though the case has not been formally classified as a terror incident.

Commander Helen Flanagan, head of counter-terrorism policing in London, called the arrests an “important breakthrough” but stressed that CCTV footage suggests at least three people were involved, meaning additional suspects remain at large.

“We fully recognize the local community will still be concerned and our investigation very much remains active,” she said.

Security in the area has been visibly stepped up. Detective Chief Superintendent Luke Williams said police officers have been deployed to protect specific locations and armed patrols have been increased, though he emphasized the measures are precautionary rather than a response to any specific threat.

The Community Security Trust, which monitors antisemitism in the UK and provides security for British Jewish communities, said it was grateful for the swift police work but acknowledged lingering unease. The organization said its own security operations would remain at a “high level.”

Four replacement ambulances, provided by the government, arrived at Hatzolah on Tuesday.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)