Key points
- The Metropolitan Police in London is investigating an arson attack that occurred late on Friday in Hendon, a north‑London neighbourhood with a large Jewish population.
- The fire targeted a business that was previously owned by a Jewish charity, although the premises are now occupied by a different owner.
- Counter‑Terrorism Policing London is leading the investigation because the incident resembles a series of recent arson attacks against Jewish‑linked properties in north‑London, including the torching of four Hatzola ambulances in Golders Green in late March 2026.
- The attack is being treated as a possible antisemitic hate crime, but is not currently classified as a terrorist incident.
- Police were called shortly after 22:30 BST on Friday when a man was seen approaching a row of shops with a plastic bag containing three bottles of fluid; he placed the bag by a building and set it alight.
- No one was injured in the fire, and there is no evidence yet that last night’s arson is directly linked to the earlier Golders‑Green ambulance arson or to a separate attempted arson at Finchley Reform Synagogue.
- Deputy Assistant Commissioner Helen Flanagan, head of Counter Terrorism Policing London, has stated that officers are looking into the motivations behind the Hendon fire and that the unit is leading the case due to “similarities” with other recent attacks.
- Local and national politicians, including MP David Pinto‑Duschinsky, have said the incident “undoubtedly adds to the concerns” of the Jewish community in Hendon amid a wider rise in reported antisemitic incidents across the UK.
Hendon (The Londoner News) April 18, 2026 – Police in north London are investigating an arson attack on a business in Hendon that was formerly used by a Jewish charity, with counter‑terrorism officers treating the incident as a possible antisemitic hate crime. The blaze late on Friday drew a rapid response from the Metropolitan Police and the London Fire Brigade after a man was seen approaching a row of shops with a plastic bag containing three bottles of fluid, which he then set on fire outside the premises.
What happened in Hendon?
The Metropolitan Police have confirmed that the fire occurred late on Friday when officers received a call shortly after 22:31 BST reporting a man placing a plastic bag near a shopfront in Hendon and then igniting its contents. As reported by Chloe Farand of the BBC, police say the suspect approached the row of shops with a plastic bag containing three bottles of fluid, set the bag alight, and then left the scene.
The building affected was a business that was previously owned by a Jewish charity, although it is no longer occupied by that organisation; current details about the present tenant have not been fully disclosed in official statements. The London Fire Brigade confirmed that firefighters attended swiftly and were able to bring the flames under control, with no injuries reported among members of the public or emergency responders.
Why is counter‑terrorism police involved?
In a statement released on Saturday, April 18, 2026, the Metropolitan Police said Counter Terrorism Policing London is now leading the investigation because the method and targeting of the Hendon fire bear similarities to a string of recent arson attacks against Jewish‑linked properties in north‑London.
As reported by the Associated Press and carried by CBS News, the case is being treated as a possible antisemitic hate crime, even though it has not been declared a terrorist incident.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Helen Flanagan, speaking for Counter Terrorism Policing London, told the press that
“at this stage last night’s arson is not being linked to other incidents in the north‑west London area over the last week or last month’s arson in Golders Green, but counter‑terrorism officers are leading due to the similarities of each attack.”
Officers are examining CCTV footage and other forensic evidence to establish whether the suspect or suspects had prior knowledge of the building’s former association with a Jewish charity.
How does this relate to earlier attacks?
Is this linked to the Golders Green ambulance fire?
The Hendon blaze follows the arson attack on four ambulances owned by the Jewish charity Hatzola in Golders Green in the early hours of Monday, March 23, 2026.
As reported by Rachel Schraer of the BBC, those ambulances were set alight in what police described as an antisemitic hate crime, with counter‑terrorism officers also assigned to that investigation.
The March 23 attack prompted an explosion‑like sound as gas canisters inside the vehicles were ignited, and six fire engines and around 40 firefighters were deployed to bring the blaze under control.
No one was injured, but the incident triggered widespread condemnation from religious and political leaders, including then‑Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who described it as a “horrific” antisemitic attack.
Police have stated that, while the modus operandi and targeting of Jewish‑linked properties in north‑London show similarities, there is as yet no evidence that the Hendon shop fire and the Golders Green ambulance arson are directly connected.
Is there a broader pattern of antisemitic incidents?
Are antisemitic incidents rising in north London?
The Hendon arson comes amid a wider wave of reported antisemitic incidents and arson‑related attacks against Jewish targets in and around London. Last week, the Metropolitan Police arrested a 46‑year‑old man and a 47‑year‑old woman on suspicion of arson at Finchley Reform Synagogue, after they were seen approaching the synagogue around 1:00 BST, throwing a brick and two bottles at the building.
As reported by the BBC, no damage or injuries were recorded in the Finchley case, but the attempted arson heightened anxieties within the local Jewish community. In comments to JNS.org, local MP David Pinto‑Duschinsky said the Hendon arson
“will undoubtedly add to the concerns”
of the large Jewish community in Hendon, which has already seen a surge in tension‑related reporting and security‑related measures.
French daily Le Monde, in its English‑language coverage, noted that the latest incidents are part of a broader uptick in antisemitic incidents in Britain, with community leaders and national politicians warning that hate‑motivated attacks are becoming more frequent and more brazen.
How is the investigation progressing?
What are police doing now?
Metropolitan Police say they are “urgently reviewing” CCTV footage showing the suspect walking along the street before approaching the shopfront in Hendon with the plastic bag. As quoted by the authors of the Standard‑London article, officers are also examining whether the fluid in the bottles contained an accelerant and whether any passers‑by saw the man before or after the fire.
Commander Flanagan has reiterated that although the case is being led by counter‑terrorism officers, it is not being treated as a terrorist incident at this stage. She added that the decision to assign counter‑terrorism policing was made
“because of the similarities of each attack”
and the need to ensure a coordinated response across north‑London arson cases rather than because a specific terror group has been identified.
What are community and political reactions?
How are local leaders and politicians responding?
In remarks carried by JNS.org, Hendon MP David Pinto‑Duschinsky said the latest arson would “undoubtedly add to the concerns” of the area’s Jewish residents, who have lived through a series of troubling incidents over recent weeks. He called for a thorough and transparent investigation, pressing police to communicate reassurances to the community about their safety and security.
Community leaders in Hendon have also expressed alarm, with some urging local authorities to increase patrols and review CCTV coverage in the area.
As reported by the BBC, Jewish organisations in Golders Green have intensified coordination with local police after the earlier ambulance arson, sharing intelligence and requesting additional security measures such as barriers and dedicated wardens.
What wider implications does this have?
What does this mean for hate‑crime and security policy?
The Hendon arson and the surrounding series of attacks have reignited debate about how the UK handles antisemitic and other hate‑motivated crimes. Lawmakers from multiple parties have pointed to the rise in both reported incidents and the visibility of extremist rhetoric, urging the government to review hate‑crime legislation and policing strategies in areas with large minority communities.
Analysts cited by Le Monde and international outlets argue that the repeated targeting of Jewish‑linked properties in north‑London suggests that anti‑Jewish sentiment is being exploited by some actors, even if individual attacks are not yet formally tied to organised terrorist networks. As the Metropolitan Police investigation continues, officials have stressed that they will update the public once any suspect is identified or if evidence emerges linking the Hendon case to other incidents.
