Third Arrest Made in Finchley Synagogue Attempted Arson Case
Counter-terrorism detectives have arrested a 19-year-old man in Portsmouth as part of an ongoing investigation into an attempted arson attack at a synagogue in north London. The teenager, who was taken into custody on Thursday morning, is the third person to be apprehended in connection with the incident at Finchley Reform Synagogue on Fallow Court Avenue.
The attempted attack occurred in the early hours of April 15th. Fortunately, no injuries were reported and the building sustained no damage. Previously, a 46-year-old man and a 38-year-old woman were arrested in Watford on suspicion of arson endangering life. Both remain on bail until July.
This latest arrest is part of a much broader crackdown by Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP) London. Since March, a series of attacks on Jewish community sites, including an arson attack on Hatzola ambulances and the stabbing of two men in Golders Green, have led to a total of 30 arrests.
So far, eight individuals have been charged with various offences. Notably, a 17-year-old boy recently pleaded guilty to arson following a separate attack at Kenton Synagogue in Harrow.
The surge in police activity follows the recent decision to raise the UK’s national threat level to "severe," meaning an attack is highly likely. Commander Helen Flanagan, head of CTP London, emphasized that officers are working closely with the Metropolitan Police to provide security advice to community venues and businesses.
“With the threat level now raised to severe, everyone can play their part to keep themselves and their communities safe,” Flanagan said. “If you have concerns about someone behaving suspiciously, please report it to us. Your information could help us save lives.”
Detectives are also investigating another arson attack that took place on Tuesday, May 5th, at a former synagogue in east London. The building was reportedly the subject of a bid by a Muslim group intending to convert the space into a mosque and community centre.
Regarding that specific case, the Metropolitan Police stated: “Detectives investigating are aware of the potential change of use of this building and keeping an open mind as to any motivation behind this incident.” No arrests have been made yet in the east London case, and enquiries are ongoing.
