A fire was reported at a memorial wall on Monday in a heavily Jewish London neighborhood, the Metropolitan Police announced on Tuesday, amid a spate of arson attacks against Jewish, Israeli, and Iranian dissident sites in the UK capital.
The memorial wall, located on Limes Avenue in Golders Green, was not damaged by the fire. The memorial was not named by the police, but a memorial devoted to protesters murdered by the Iranian Islamic Regime, called by some the Eternal Wall, was established on the corner of Limes and Golders Green Road. Across the road opposite the Eternal Wall is the Michael Sobell Jewish Community Center, and behind the memorial is the Beis Hamedrash Kehal Chasidim synagogue.
No arrests have been made, and while Counter Terrorism Policing London is leading the investigation, it is not being treated as a terrorist incident.
Detective Chief Superintendent Luke Williams said in a press statement that the police recognized that the incident may heighten concerns in a neighborhood where the spate of London arson attacks began on March 23.
"We are working closely with community organizations and leaders, and want to reassure them that our protective security operation continues. Our local officers are working closely with Counter Terror Policing to support their investigation," said Williams. "Since last month’s attack in Golders Green, we have stepped up our work to reassure communities. This includes armed police patrols as well as deployments of officers from Project Servator, who are specially trained to spot anyone who may be planning or preparing to commit criminal acts.”
Many of the recent arson attacks were claimed by Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia (HAYI), but as of Tuesday evening, there were no statements issued by the group through the usual Iranian regime-linked channels.
HAYI had taken responsibility for incidents of arson, but also had claimed to have dropped hazardous chemicals onto the Israeli embassy with drones. Police found jars filled with an unknown substance in the area that was later revealed to be benign.
Police announced on Monday that they were continuing their investigation into the incident, releasing a Devon man arrested Sunday on bail and another 39-year-old Ealing resident without charge. Both had been arrested under the 2000 Terrorism Act, the younger under suspicion of preparing a terrorist act.
CTP London head Commander Helen Flanagan said in a statement that though the men were released, this did not mean the investigation was over, noting that law enforcement had made a total of 26 arrests related to the attacks.
Of the 26 people arrested, eight have been charged with arson-related offenses, and one person was convicted.
London Jews hit with arson attacks
The spate of attacks began with the arson of four Hatzalah ambulances in the Golders Green area.
On April 15, arsonists attempted to attack the Finchley Reform Synagogue by placing bottles with accelerants next to the synagogue and throwing a brick at the alleged firebomb. Later that day, an arson attempt was made against the office of Iran International, with suspected arsonists throwing a burning container into the car park of the news outlet. The fire died out on its own.
A building that was once the premises of a Jewish group, still with the organization's name on the window, was the target of an arson attempt last Friday. Three bottles containing accelerants were placed next to a building and set alight. The bottles failed to fully ignite, but minor damage was caused to the shopfront.
Last Sunday, the Kenton United Synagogue was firebombed, causing minor smoke damage to a room, but no injuries.