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Three charged in Golders Green ambulance arson case
Three individuals have been formally accused of setting fire to four ambulances owned by a Jewish charity in north London last week, the Metropolitan Police announced.
Incident details
The attack occurred in the early hours of 23 March in a synagogue car park in Golders Green. All four Hatzola ambulances were destroyed or damaged in the blaze.
Suspects and charges
Two men, Hamza Iqbal, 20, and Rehan Khan, 19, both from Leyton, and a 17-year-old dual British-Pakistani national from Walthamstow, face charges of arson with intent to damage property and reckless endangerment. The teenager cannot be named for legal reasons.
The trio were arrested on Wednesday at separate east London addresses. They are scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Saturday.
Investigation status
Counter-terrorism police are leading the probe, though authorities have not classified the incident as terrorism. The Metropolitan Police confirmed the investigation remains ongoing.
"Since this appalling attack last week, we have been working continuously to investigate and identify those responsible," said Cdr Helen Flanagan, head of Counter Terrorism Policing London.
Metropolitan Police
Community response and security measures
Hatzola, the Jewish volunteer-led charity that operated the ambulances, provides medical assistance to patients regardless of faith. Police have increased patrols in areas with large Jewish populations as a precautionary measure.
"We know that local community concerns continue to remain high - particularly for our Jewish communities in the Passover festival period," said Det Ch Sup Luke Williams, who oversees North West London policing.
Metropolitan Police
Williams emphasized that the additional officers are not in response to any specific threat.
Legal proceedings
Frank Ferguson, head of the Crown Prosecution Service's special crime and counter-terrorism division, reminded the public that the defendants are entitled to a fair trial and that criminal proceedings are active.
Two other men, aged 45 and 47, were previously arrested in connection with the case and released on bail until late April.
