An attempted arson was reported at the Kenton United Synagogue in north-west London, in a series of incidents targeting the Jewish community. According to the Community Safety Trust (CST), the attack on Saturday night caused minor smoke damage to an interior room, but there were no injuries or significant structural damage, the BBC reports.The building, located near a school and children’s playground, was cordoned off as police and fire teams investigated.Forensic officers, fire detection dogs and multiple police units were deployed to the scene, with a strong security presence continuing in the area.
What did the Mayor of London say?
London Mayor Sadiq Khan said the perpetrators would face “the full force of the law” and reiterated that anti-Semitism has no place in the city.Responding to the incident, Efraim Mirvis branded the attack “cowardly” and warned of a “continued campaign of violence and intimidation” against Jewish communities in Britain.
Series of anti-Semitic attacks
The latest incident comes amid a string of suspected anti-Semitic attacks across north-west London.On Friday, a building belonging to the First Jewish Charity in Hendon was targeted when a man attempted to burn plastic bags filled with liquid bottles outside the premises before fleeing. The attack caused minor damage and is also being treated as a hate crime.Police are also investigating incidents in Finchley, where bottles filled with petrol were allegedly thrown at a synagogue, with arrests being made earlier this week. There is no news of any arrest so far in the Canton case.
Earlier attack on Jewish ambulance
The increase follows a major arson attack in Golders Green last month. In the early hours of 23 March four ambulances belonging to a Jewish volunteer emergency service were set on fire.The explosions, caused by oxygen and gas canisters inside the vehicles, damaged nearby properties and forced residents to evacuate.
