Counter-terrorism officials are investigating three distinct arson incidents in London that targeted both an Iranian dissident and Jewish institutions, raising concerns that the Iranian government may be involved.
The most recent incident occurred around 8:30 PM on Wednesday outside the headquarters of Iran International, a Persian-language news outlet critical of the Iranian government. According to the Metropolitan Police, an “ignited container” was hurled into a parking area at the company’s Wembley offices, but the fire was quickly extinguished. Following a police chase that involved an armed response unit, authorities arrested a 16-year-old boy along with two men, aged 19 and 21, on charges of arson that endangered lives.
This attack followed an earlier attempted firebomb assault on Finchley Reform Synagogue earlier that same morning, as well as an arson incident last month involving four ambulances operated by a Jewish charity in Golders Green.
A 47-year-old woman and a 46-year-old man are still in custody in connection with the synagogue incident. On Thursday, Scotland Yard announced that two 18-year-olds were arrested at different locations in East London during searches related to the ambulance fire. One of them faces charges of arson with intent to endanger life, while the other is suspected of conspiracy to commit such an act. Three other men have already been charged regarding this incident, and one remains on bail.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed that all three cases are under the purview of London’s counter-terrorism unit. Deputy Commissioner Matt Jukes stated that they are being treated as distinct events and emphasized that it is premature to draw conclusions about the motivations behind them.
Investigators suspect that some of the individuals involved may have criminal backgrounds. Counter-terrorism specialists have previously noted the trend of foreign nations utilizing criminal elements to perpetrate violence within the UK.
During a press briefing on Thursday, Jukes issued a stern warning to individuals who might consider carrying out attacks on behalf of foreign entities: “Those who believe they can easily profit by committing crimes for others are making a grave error. We will demonstrate that such actions carry serious repercussions.”
He further commented, “While I cannot provide specific insights into these ongoing investigations, I want to caution those who think there is easy money to be made. Those who finance these activities are likely to abandon their accomplices when trouble arises.” He referenced the case of Dylan Earl, who is currently serving a 17-year sentence for leading a Russian-directed arson attack in London, underscoring the risks associated with involvement in such schemes.
When asked whether the police were looking into the possibility of Iranian proxies being involved in these attacks, Jukes responded, “We are not able to draw definitive conclusions at this stage, but it is certainly a relevant aspect of the broader global context.”
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans, who oversees national counter-terrorism policing, was questioned on why none of the three incidents had been categorized as terrorist acts. She replied, “We are still in the preliminary phases of these investigations and are keeping an open mind. All potential offenses will be assessed as we determine charges or further investigative steps.”
She added that while the incidents have not yet been classified as terrorist events, they are being led by counter-terrorism units, allowing for the deployment of specialized resources to these inquiries.
The militant organization Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia has claimed responsibility for the ambulance fire and indicated its involvement in the synagogue attack, as well as several others across Europe. Evans acknowledged awareness of this group, stating, “This is one of our many lines of inquiry, among several others.” She also noted that about 20% of counter-terrorism efforts currently focus on “hostile state activity.”
In response to the attack on its offices, the editorial board of Iran International issued a statement expressing concern over the motives behind the incident, emphasizing that they would refrain from speculation while investigations are ongoing. They described the attack as serious and highlighted an increase in threats and intimidation aimed at their journalists and their families in Iran, particularly following recent military operations in the country. They characterized these actions as part of a broader effort to undermine the free flow of information and restrict access to independent news for the Iranian populace.
