Attempted Arson at Northwest London Synagogue Marks Third Attack on Jewish Sites in a Week
A synagogue in northwest London was the target of an attempted arson attack overnight when a bottle containing an accelerant was thrown through a window, police and community safety groups said. The attack — which caused smoke damage but no injuries — is the third incident at Jewish-linked sites in the capital in a single week amid a recorded rise in antisemitic incidents across the UK.
By Paul Serran
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An attempted arson attack was carried out at a synagogue in northwest London overnight, Metropolitan Police and Jewish community safety organisations said, marking the third attack on Jewish-linked sites in the capital within a week. Officers responding to the scene in the Harrow area found a broken window and smoke inside a room; investigators say a bottle containing an accelerant had been thrown through the window. There were no reported injuries and damage was described by community groups as minor smoke damage.
The Community Security Trust, which provides safety advice to Jewish groups in the United Kingdom, confirmed the attack at Kenton United Synagogue and said emergency services were on site. The Metropolitan Police said officers had observed the damage to the synagogue window and evidence that an incendiary device had been used. Sky News correspondent Phoebe Southworth reported from Kenton on the incident as it unfolded.
The attack follows two other incidents in north London this week. On Wednesday a synagogue in Finchley was targeted in an attempted firebombing, and on Friday night the former premises of a Jewish organisation in Hendon were also attacked. Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis described the pattern of attacks on social media, saying the recent incidents show that a “sustained campaign of violence and intimidation against the Jewish community in the UK is gathering momentum.” He added: “Thank God, no lives have been lost, but we cannot, and must not, wait for that to change before we understand just how dangerous this moment is for all of our society.”
British counter-terror police are reported to be investigating possible external links to the incidents. Authorities are examining claims that criminals recruited by Iran’s regime could be involved, and an Islamist militant group called Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiyya (HAYI) has purportedly claimed responsibility for a series of attacks. Among those incidents attributed to the group are the attempted firebombings in Finchley and Hendon and the firebombing of four ambulances belonging to a Jewish charity in Golders Green.
The string of attacks comes as the Community Security Trust and other organisations have highlighted a broader increase in antisemitic incidents across the country. The Gateway Pundit article cited a figure of 3,700 antisemitic incidents recorded in the United Kingdom in 2025. The rising number of incidents has prompted concern among community leaders and politicians about public safety and the adequacy of current protective measures for vulnerable sites.
Reactions from within the Jewish community reflected alarm and calls for action. Journalist Nicole Lampert was quoted as saying, “It does feel really dangerous, I’m worried a bit about my safety.” Former Israeli government spokesman Eylon Levy urged stronger measures on the international stage, stating: “The UK really needs to take firm action against the Iranian regime before people get killed.” These comments underscore growing fears among British Jews that the recent attacks are part of an escalating pattern.
The article that first reported these events also included editorial commentary blaming domestic policy decisions and media coverage for the climate in which such attacks are occurring. The piece stated, “The UK establishment and the lying MSM will blame the military confrontations in the Middle East for this state of things – but, in fact, these attacks are the direct result of their own suicidal ‘unchecked mass migration’ policies.” That view was presented as the publisher’s opinion rather than as an established causation endorsed by law enforcement.
Police investigations are ongoing. Authorities have not publicly confirmed responsibility for the attacks or verified claims attributed to HAYI. Counter-terrorism units are continuing forensic examinations at the synagogue in Harrow and are liaising with Jewish community organisations as they assess threat levels and consider security steps. Community leaders have urged the government to take more robust protective measures and to investigate any potential foreign influence in the recent spate of attacks.
