UK police arrest two men over arson attack on Jewish community ambulances

LONDON- Police said on Wednesday they had arrested two British men in connection with the suspected antisemitic arson attack on four Jewish community ambulances in ​north London earlier this week.

The men, aged 47 and 45, were taken at addresses in north west London and central London respectively, police said.

Officers had previously said they were looking into a possible link to Iran over the arson attack.

Last week, two men, one a dual Iranian-British national and another an Iranian national, appeared in court charged with spying on Jewish targets for Iran.

The ambulances were set on fire in the early hours of Monday morning in an attack which British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called a "deeply shocking antisemitic arson attack".

No injuries were reported. The arrests were made on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life, the police said, adding that an enhanced police presence remained in place around the affected communities in north London as a precaution.

Police said their investigation into the incident is continuing, noting that CCTV footage had suggested there were at least three people involved.

Concern has been mounting about rising levels of antisemitism in Britain, while authorities have also warned of the threat posed by Iran, including the surveillance or targeting of Jewish sites. Tehran has denied such accusations.

-Reporting by Sarah Young and Muvija M, editing by Paul Sandle/Reuters