Two arrested over Kenton synagogue arson attack

Police have taken two teenagers into custody following an arson attack targeting a synagogue in north-west London, according to the Metropolitan Police. The incident involved a bottle filled with an accelerant being thrown through a window at the Kenton United Synagogue, located on Shaftesbury Avenue, Kenton. This occurred shortly after midnight on Sunday, causing minor damage to the building but no injuries.

Deputy Commissioner Matt Jukes confirmed to the BBC that the two individuals detained overnight were a 17-year-old boy and a 19-year-old man. He also revealed that, in total, 15 arrests have been made in connection with six recent assaults on locations linked to the Jewish community throughout London. These attacks have drawn significant attention and ongoing investigation.

Many of these incidents appear to have been claimed by a group known as Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia, or the Islamic Movement of the Companions of the Right. This group has reportedly posted various videos on social media suggesting involvement in attacks not only in north London but also against Jewish targets across Europe. Authorities are currently examining the validity of these claims as part of their inquiry.

Addressing the investigation, Deputy Commissioner Jukes indicated that it is a serious possibility that some perpetrators might be local individuals influenced or recruited by Iran. He noted, “I think that’s a very serious line of inquiry in relation to these events, we’ve seen a pattern… people taking cash, as it looks like quick and easy money.” Jukes described the series of attacks as “a concerted campaign against Londoners, against Britons, against British Jewish communities in particular.” He also praised the resilience demonstrated by London’s Jewish community, emphasizing that such attacks threaten the core values that unite society

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