London Ambulance Arson Attack: Four Men Admit Burning Jewish Emergency Vehicles

Four young British men have admitted carrying out an arson attack that destroyed four ambulances belonging to the Jewish volunteer emergency service Hatzola in London.

Hatzola Ambulances Set Ablaze Near Synagogue

The vehicles were set on fire on March 23 while parked near a synagogue. Prosecutors estimate the attack caused approximately £1 million in damage.

Hamza Iqbal, 20, Rehan Khan, 19, Judex Atshatshi, 18, and Saif Ali, 18, pleaded guilty at London’s Old Bailey to damaging the ambulances while being reckless about whether lives would be endangered.

Police Investigate Possible Iranian Links

The ambulance attack was followed by fires targeting a synagogue, a former synagogue, Iran International and a memorial honouring people killed in Iran.

British police previously said they were investigating possible Iranian links. The pro-Iranian group Harakat Ashab Al-Yamin Al-Islamiyya claimed responsibility for several incidents, including the ambulance fire.

Fifth Defendant Denies Charge

Subhan Ahmed, 18, pleaded not guilty to assisting an offender in connection with the disposal of a vehicle allegedly used during the attack. His trial is expected to take place next year.

The Community Security Trust described the destruction of the ambulances as an antisemitic attack against a volunteer service providing emergency medical assistance across north London.