Keir Starmer denounced the alleged antisemitic hate crime that occurred when four Jewish volunteer ambulances were set on fire outside a synagogue in London.
Following a late-night arson incident that set fire to Jewish Community Ambulance service trucks, police are conducting an investigation.
Six fire engines and 40 firefighters rushed to Highfield Road, near the Mchzike Hadath synagogue in Golders Green, at about 1.45 am to put out the flames. No one was harmed.
Three men wearing hoods are seen approaching a parked ambulance before it catches fire in CCTV footage that has been circulated on social media. After that, they leave the region.
Another shows the ambulances engulfed in flames, with several audible explosions heard in the background.
The force of the explosions, thought to be gas canisters onboard the Hatzola ambulances, caused windows to break in a nearby block of flats.
The fire destroyed the stained glass windows and damaged the roof of the synagogue, which is among the oldest in Europe.
Condemning the ‘deeply shocking’ attack, Sir Keir Starmer said: ‘My thoughts are with the Jewish community who are waking up this morning to this horrific news.
‘Antisemitism has no place in our society. Anyone with any information must come forward to the police.’
Gideon Falter, chief executive of Campaign Against Antisemitism, said: ‘We are absolutely heartbroken that this is how low Britain has sunk. This horrific act truly plumbs new depths.’
The Jewish volunteer organisation Hatzola, which offers free emergency medical care and hospital transportation, supplied the ambulances.
Roads in the vicinity are still restricted, and locals were evacuated as a precaution.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting announced that the four ambulances would be replaced by vehicles from the London Ambulance Service.
Speaking at the scene of the attack in North London, he said: ‘We will be providing four replacement ambulances on loan initially before permanent replacements can be found.
‘The Jewish community cannot foot the bill for this.’
He added: ‘Antisemitism is an old hatred, but it is alive and kicking in our country and all of us, particularly those who are not Jewish, have to wake up, stand up and work with our Jewish friends and neighbours in confronting and defeating this despicable hatred.’
Damon Hoff, chairman of the synagogue that hosts the Hotzala ambulances, lives in the local area and heard the explosions.
He told the Daily Mail: ‘The smoke was blowing, and it’s frightening. It is frightening. And when those explosions are going, it’s terrifying.
Our government and our police need to face up to this because things are only going to get worse, and our fragile government doesn’t have the stomach to address this intimidation – and it’s not even intimidation any longer, it’s an act of terrorism.
This was an absolutely despicable attack, and even if they do get caught, they will get a slap on the hand and be told that they are naughty boys, but they need much more than that, because why would anybody do such a thing to emergency services? Perhaps one day these people might need an ambulance, and it just doesn’t show up because it was set on fire.
It would be wise for these idiots to keep in mind that our nation battled the Nazis to ensure the survival of future generations. This attitude is just cowardly and despicable, and it has no place in British culture. Either they just don’t care, or they are brain-dead!
THE MONTHLY MOSQUITO 