Police are investigating whether proxy operatives recruited by Iran may have been behind the arson attack on Jewish ambulances in north London, according to sources.
Four ambulances from Hatzola, a volunteer-led ambulance service operating in Golders Green, were set on fire at about 1.35am on Monday, and investigators have theorised that Iran may have recruited so-called “useful idiots” through online criminal networks, and paid them in cryptocurrency to commit the attack.
This model has been used by Russia in the past, and Iran has also been suspected of using proxies such as Chechen and Turkish gangsters to launch attacks across Europe, as well as using Iranian expatriates to monitor dissidents in the UK.
The Met are also investigating the claim of responsibility by Iran-supporting online group Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiya - the Islamic Movement of the People of the Right Hand.
The group, which has possible links to the Iranian state, made the claim on its Telegram channel, having also claimed responsibility for recent incidents in Europe, including attacks on synagogues in Liege and Rotterdam and a Jewish school in Amsterdam.
Sources say the “leading hypothesis” is that the attack was directed by Iran, while detectives have not ruled out far-right extremists or far-left anti-war activists, the Times reported.
Two British men, aged 45 and 47, were arrested on Wednesday and have since been released on police bail until April.
The investigators are focusing on tracking down the individuals who conducted the arson, as it is understood the two men were not suspected of setting the fires.
Additional security measures have been put in place to protect the Jewish community, including 264 extra police officers being deployed in London and additional visible firearms patrols.
Commander Helen Flanagan, the head of Counter Terrorism Policing London which is leading the investigation, said: “Although the two men have been released from police custody, there are strict bail conditions in place while we continue to investigate their suspected involvement in this incident.
“I can reassure the public that we will be closely monitoring these while we carry out further inquiries.
“We continue to work to try and identify all of those involved in this appalling attack and the investigation team is working around the clock to do this.
“I’d like to thank the public and particularly the local Jewish community in the area for their continued support and reiterate our appeal to anyone who might have information that could assist with the investigation to get in touch with us.”
Hatzola has served Golders Green, where 49 per cent of residents identify as Jewish, since 1979.
