Two masked individuals threw petrol-filled bottles at a synagogue in north London just after midnight on Wednesday and fled before police arrived. The Metropolitan Police confirmed that neither bottle caught fire and no one was hurt but said the attack at Finchley Reform Synagogue would be investigated as an antisemitic hate crime.
Officers from the Met's North West Command Unit are leading the inquiry with Counter Terrorism Policing London providing specialist support. The two suspects wore dark clothing and covered their faces with balaclavas. A brick was also thrown at the building during the incident though it caused no significant damage. No arrests have been made.
Detective Chief Superintendent Luke Williams who oversees policing in the area said the force was aware of the deep unease the incident would stir up locally. He pointed to a separate arson attack at a Jewish site in nearby Golders Green the previous month and said additional officers had already been deployed across both neighbourhoods. He called on residents holding CCTV or dashcam footage from the area to come forward without delay.
The attack has unsettled a part of London with one of Britain's largest Jewish populations. Finchley and Golders Green MP Sarah Sackman visited the synagogue on Wednesday morning and described the attempt as part of a pattern of alarming incidents targeting her community. She said British Jews must be able to live freely and worship without fear and called on the government to treat antisemitism and community security as urgent national concerns rather than local policing matters.
The Community Security Trust which monitors hate crime against Jewish communities across Britain confirmed it was working with police and supporting the affected synagogue. The organisation said there were no injuries and no serious structural damage but did not downplay the seriousness of the attempt. The incident adds to a series of security alerts involving Jewish institutions in London in recent weeks.
Police have so far declined to confirm whether they believe Wednesday's attack and last month's Golders Green fire are connected. Anyone with information can contact the Metropolitan Police using reference 1685/15APR or reach Crimestoppers anonymously.
