Two men have been arrested on suspicion of arson after four ambulances were destroyed in a likely antisemitic attack against a Jewish charity, reports Joe Ives, Local Democracy Reporter

Sara Conway, Barnet Council's cabinet member for community safety — Sara Conway, Barnet Council’s cabinet member for community safety

A senior member of Barnet Council has described Monday’s attacks on ambulances belonging to a Jewish community charity as “heinous and despicable”.

On Monday (23rd) four Hatzola ambulances were set on fire in a suspected arson attack that the Metropolitan Police Service is investigating as a potential antisemetic hate crime.

Speaking at an overview and scrutiny meeting on Tuesday (24th), councillor Sara Conway, the local authority’s cabinet member for community safety, spoke out against the suspected attacks.

Cllr Conway described the incident as “heinous and despicable”, adding: “I’m not even sure I have the words for the cowardly attack that took place in Golder’s Green”.

She said the council had tried to approach its response “as collaboratively as possible” and put aside any party political differences.

The Labour member praised the responses of Conservative Golders Green ward councillors Dean Cohen and Peter Zinkin as well as that of Cllr Shimon Ryde, who represents Hendon.

Speaking on Monday Cllr Zinkin, who is also leader of the opposition at the local authority, said the incident brought “shock and horror” and also led to “a deep and overwhelming sadness that this has happened”.

Two men, aged 47 and 45, were arrested on Wednesday (25th) at addresses in north-west and central London on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life. They were taken to a London police station while officers carried out searches of the two addresses.

Hatzola ambulances are “not just a Jewish service” noted Andrew Walthers, an Orthodox Jewish councillor in Manchester earlier this week.

“If a call comes from within the area, they will come to your aid, whoever you are. There’s no cost to anyone and even on the sabbath, they’ll go to any case,” he added.

Commander Helen Flanagan, head of Counter Terrorism Policing London, which is leading the investigation, said: “We have been working around the clock since this appalling attack took place and this has led to these arrests being made this morning.”

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