politics
March 23, 2026
Security agencies investigate claim Iran-linked group behind London ambulance arson
Met police say authenticating claim of responsibility by Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia is ‘priority’
TL;DR
- Four ambulances belonging to a Jewish charity in north London were destroyed in an arson attack.
- Security agencies are investigating a claim of responsibility by a group named Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia (HAYI), which has been linked to Iran.
- MI5 is considering Iran's involvement, but authorities caution against rushing to judgment, acknowledging the possibility of an antisemitic attack unrelated to Iran.
- CCTV footage shows three hooded individuals pouring accelerant on the vehicles before igniting them.
- The incident is being treated as an antisemitic hate crime and is being led by counter-terrorism policing.
- The HAYI group has claimed responsibility for similar attacks against Jewish institutions in other European countries.
- MI5 has previously warned of Iran's threat in the UK, citing numerous Iran-backed plots.
- Oxygen canisters in the ambulances exploded, causing damage to nearby properties and temporarily displacing 34 residents.
- The torched vehicles were run by Hatzola Northwest, a volunteer-based Jewish charity providing medical transportation.
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