Police are investigating a suspected arson attack in north London at a memorial wall in Golders Green.
The attack is thought to have occurred on Limes Avenue at 12.15am on Monday and it was reported to the Metropolitan Police just before 7.30pm that day.
The wall near a Jewish centre, a memorial to those killed by the Iranian regime, was not damaged.
A section of the wall is dedicated to those killed in the Hamas attack on the Nova music festival in Israel in 2023, while a more recent statement of solidarity for the Jewish community in the wake of recent attacks has been attached to a nearby tree.
The attack follows a string of arson attacks on sites in north London linked to the Jewish community.
The incident is being investigated by counter-terror police but is not currently being treated as terrorism.
It comes after another alleged arson attack just streets away from where four Jewish community ambulances were destroyed in late March.
Detective Chief Superintendent Luke Williams, who leads policing in north-west London, said: "We recognise that this incident will heighten concerns in the Golders Green area, where residents have already faced a series of attacks.
"We are working closely with community organisations and leaders, and want to reassure them that our protective security operation continues. Our local officers are working closely with Counter Terror Policing to support their investigation.
"Since last month’s attack in Golders Green, we have stepped up our work to reassure communities. This includes armed police patrols as well as deployments of officers from Project Servator, who are specially trained to spot anyone who may be planning or preparing to commit criminal acts.”
A group calling itself Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia, the Islamic Movement of the Companions of the Right (Hayi), has claimed responsibility for the series of arson attacks on Jewish sites in north London, as well as an incident where drones were flown near the Israeli embassy.
Police have said they are looking into whether Iranian proxy could be using “thugs for hire” to carry out the attacks in London.
Ali Vahedi, a volunteer from the Miga Rally community group that set up the memorial and organise security to watch the wall, told the Press Association: “Last week a drone was here, people come and throw things like tomatoes and now last night, after this fire happened, it is getting more dangerous.
“We started security here three months ago because we did not feel safe.”
At first police thought the fire had been started by a candle, but CCTV footage showed a person using a liquid to try to start a blaze, he explained.
Mr Vahedi, 50, from Barnet, added: “The individual used a liquid to start the fire, the police told me. The fire started from the end of the table and it spread everywhere.
“We are lucky someone saw the fire and stopped it. Now we have the same feeling as the Jewish community. We are not safe.”
Two men arrested under terrorism laws over the embassy incident have now been released from police custody, the Met said.
A 39-year-old man who was held on April 21 in Ealing, west London, under section 41 of the Terrorism Act, which allows someone to be arrested without a warrant if they are a suspected terrorist, has been released with no further action.
The second suspect, a 37-year-old man who was arrested in Devon on Sunday on suspicion of preparation of terrorist acts, has been bailed until July.
Grainy footage was posted online of the drone being flown in Kensington Park and reportedly crashing into a tree.
Hayi claimed that the drone was carrying hazardous substances but this later proved to be untrue.
Commander Helen Flanagan, head of Counter-Terrorism Policing London, said: “Although these two men have been released from custody, our investigation into this incident continues.
“We appreciate the community remains very concerned about this, and other incidents that have targeted Jewish, Israeli or Iranian sites over recent weeks.
“We have made a total of 26 arrests across our various investigations and we continue to work to identify anyone who may have been involved.”
Of the 26 people arrested, eight have been charged and one convicted.
Anyone with information is asked to call 101, quoting CAD 7308/27Apr, or independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
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