Two masked individuals attempted to set fire to a synagogue in north London early Wednesday, hurling what are believed to be petrol-filled bottles at the building before fleeing into the night.

The attack on Finchley Reform Synagogue occurred shortly after midnight. The two suspects, dressed in dark clothing and balaclavas, approached the building and threw the bottles along with a brick. Neither bottle ignited, and no injuries or structural damage were reported.

Scotland Yard said it is treating the incident as an attempted hate crime. Investigators from the Metropolitan Police’s North West Command Unit are leading the inquiry, with counter-terrorism specialists brought in to assist.
Two arrests were made on Wednesday evening – a 47-year-old woman and a 46-year-old man – but their identities have not yet been released.

Detective Chief Superintendent Luke Williams, who oversees policing in the borough, acknowledged the incident would reverberate through the local Jewish community, particularly in light of a separate arson attack on Hatzolah ambulances in nearby Golders Green last month.

“We are working with the affected synagogue and continuing to meet community leaders,” he said, adding that residents should expect a visible increase in police patrols in the coming days.

The Community Security Trust, which monitors antisemitism and coordinates protection for Jewish communities across the United Kingdom, confirmed it is supporting the synagogue and working alongside police as the investigation continues.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)