GOLDERS GREEN, NORTH-WEST LONDON — The Metropolitan Police launched a counter-terrorism-led investigation into a suspected arson attack on a memorial wall in Golders Green, north-west London, after the incident occurred at around 12:15 a.m. on Monday and was reported just before 7:30 p.m. the same day. Scotland Yard said the investigation was led by counter-terrorism policing and was not being treated as a terrorist incident, with local officers working alongside counter-terror units.

No arrests have been made in connection with the suspected arson attack, and the memorial wall itself was not damaged. The wall stands near a Jewish centre and serves as a tribute to thousands of protesters killed in a crackdown in Iran in January. Police initially believed the fire was started by a candle, but CCTV footage showed a person using a liquid to attempt to start the fire.

Ali Vahedi, a volunteer from the Miga Rally community group, described the events at the site. "The fire started from the end of the table and it spread everywhere. We are lucky someone saw the fire and stopped it." Vahedi said the group had taken its own precautions. "We started security here three months ago because we did not feel safe," he said. "We are not safe." He added: "Last week a drone was here, people come and throw things like tomatoes and now last night, after this fire happened, it is getting more dangerous."

On 23 March, ambulances belonging to the Jewish volunteer emergency service Hatzola were torched in Golders Green. A group calling itself Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia has claimed responsibility for arson attacks on Jewish sites in north London and a drone incident near the Israeli embassy, including an attempted arson attack at a Persian-language media outlet in northwest London on April 15 and an arson attack on a synagogue in Kenton on April 19. Over the past month, counter-terrorism officers arrested more than two dozen people as part of investigations into attacks on Jewish-linked premises.

Detective Chief Superintendent Luke Williams said: "We recognise that this incident will heighten concerns in the Golders Green area, where residents have already faced a series of attacks." Williams said additional measures had been put in place since the previous month's attack. "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," he said. Williams also said: "We are working closely with community organisations and leaders, and want to reassure them that our protective security operation continues."

Two men arrested under terrorism laws over the embassy incident were released from police custody. Commander Helen Flanagan, head of counter-terrorism policing London, said the wider inquiry was ongoing. "Although these two men have been released from custody, our investigation into this incident continues," she said. "We have made a total of 26 arrests across our various investigations and we continue to work to identify anyone who may have been involved." Flanagan also said: "We appreciate the community remains very concerned about this and other incidents that have targeted Jewish, Israeli or Iranian sites over recent weeks."