Fire at London kosher store likely not arson, police say

London police are currently investigating a fire that broke out at the Kosher Kingdom supermarket in the Golders Green area of north London. While the cause is still under investigation, preliminary findings do not suggest the fire was intentionally set.

Craig Carter, deputy assistant commissioner for the London Fire Brigade, stated at a briefing that current evidence does not raise suspicions of an intentional act. Police are leaning towards the possibility of a fault in the electrical wiring system as the cause of the blaze. The fire affected the ground floor and storage areas of the supermarket.

This incident occurred in a neighborhood that has seen a series of arson attacks targeting synagogues and other Jewish community sites in recent months. Two Jewish individuals were also reportedly stabbed in the area in late April. In response, police have increased patrols in Golders Green to reassure the local Jewish community.

While a little-known group linked to Iran, Harakat Ašháb al-Jamín al-Islámíja (HAYI), has claimed responsibility for some of the previous attacks, the investigation into the supermarket fire is focused on electrical malfunctions. London police have established a new team of approximately 100 officers to protect the Jewish community, combining regular policing with counter-terrorism capabilities.