Fifth man charged in March arson of Golders Green Hatzalah ambulances

An 18-year-old man has been charged in connection with the March arson attack that destroyed four ambulances belonging to Hatzalah, a Jewish volunteer emergency service. Subhan Ahmed, a British national, faces a charge of "assisting an offender" in relation to the incident, which occurred in the early morning of March 23 in Golders Green, a predominantly Jewish neighborhood in London.

This charge marks the latest development in the ongoing investigation led by the Metropolitan Police's counter-terrorism unit. Previously, four other suspects were charged in April. These include British nationals Hamza Iqbal, 20; Rehan Khan, 19; and Judex Atshatshi, 18, along with a 17-year-old dual British and Pakistani national. They face charges of "committing arson, destroying or damaging property, and being reckless as to whether life would be endangered."

The four previously charged individuals remain in custody ahead of a trial scheduled for January. Ahmed, however, was released on bail and is due in court on June 16. The ambulance arsons occurred at the beginning of a series of incidents that have heightened concerns within London's Jewish community, leading to increased police patrols. These incidents have included incendiary devices near synagogues and the stabbing of two Jewish men. The Metropolitan Police recently reported a 72% rise in antisemitic hate crimes in May.

The Community Security Trust, a Jewish organization, acknowledged the police and Crown Prosecution Service for their work investigating the attack and other arson incidents targeting the Jewish community. The organization stated that these are serious allegations and that those responsible must be held accountable.

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These are very serious allegations, and it is right that those responsible are being held accountable.