UK Authorities Order Three Suspects into Custody Over Jewish Charity Attack

Three men have been charged with arson in connection with a fire that damaged four ambulances owned by a Jewish charity in London.

The Metropolitan Police announced on Saturday that Hamza Iqbal, 20, and Rehan Khan, 19, two British nationals, had been identified as suspects. A 17-year-old UK-Pakistani dual national is also being held in custody, although their identity cannot be disclosed due to legal reasons.

According to the police, the three men were charged with arson and “being reckless as to whether life would be endangered” after they appeared in court on Wednesday. The suspects did not enter a plea during their 45-minute appearance at the Westminster Magistrates Court.

The ambulances, which belonged to Hatzola, a volunteer organisation providing free medical transportation and emergency response primarily for the Orthodox Jewish community, were set on fire on March 23 in Golders Green, an area of North London with a significant Jewish population. The London Fire Brigade reported that explosions from cylinders on the vehicles shattered nearby windows, but no one was injured.

A fourth person has been arrested by British police in connection with the arson attack. The Metropolitan Police are treating the incident as an anti-Semitic hate crime and have promised to increase security around Jewish community sites across the capital.

Source: Al Jazeera