A teenage boy faces an arson charge after a firebomb was thrown into a London synagogue, part of a wider pattern of attacks on Jewish and Iranian dissident sites
LONDON: A teenage boy has been charged with arson following a firebomb attack on a synagogue in northwest London.
The incident occurred late Saturday when a bottle containing an accelerant was thrown through a window of the Kenton United Synagogue in Harrow.
Smoke was seen inside the room, but no injuries were reported by the Metropolitan Police.
Footage posted online showed a person in dark clothing setting light to the bottle before throwing it through the synagogue’s window.
Two young men, aged 17 and 19, were arrested in connection with the attack.
The 17-year-old has been charged with arson not endangering life and was due to appear in court.
The 19-year-old has been released as police investigations continue.
Deputy Commissioner Matt Jukes revealed that 15 people have now been arrested for six similar incidents in recent months.
These include an attack where a burning object was thrown at the offices of Iran International, a Persian media outlet critical of Iran’s clerical leadership.
Jukes alleged the arrests point to a pattern of “thugs for hire” as Britain sees “the pressure of hostile states bearing into our communities”.
London’s police force is investigating whether the attacks have been instigated by Iranian proxies.
Britain’s chief rabbi has warned of “a sustained campaign of violence and intimidation” against Jews in the UK.
