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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Conflict & Security

UK Police Arrest Teens in 'Thugs for Hire' Attacks on Jewish Sites

From The Punch · (23m ago) English Critical tone

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • UK police arrested two teenagers, aged 17 and 19, in connection with an arson attack on a Jewish site in northwest London.
  • These arrests bring the total number of arrests for six related incidents to 15, with police investigating potential links to hostile states and "thugs for hire."
  • The incidents, including an arson attempt at Kenton United Synagogue, have raised concerns about a sustained campaign of intimidation against the Jewish community in the UK.

The Metropolitan Police have apprehended two youths, aged 17 and 19, following a recent arson attempt at the Kenton United Synagogue in Harrow. This latest development brings the total number of arrests across six separate incidents to 15. Deputy Assistant Commissioner Matt Jukes highlighted a disturbing pattern of "thugs for hire" being utilized, suggesting a connection to external state actors.

I’m really pleased to say that overnight, we have news of two arrests in relation to that incident, 17- and 19-year-old males.

— Matt JukesDeputy Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, announcing the arrests.

This investigation is exploring the possibility that these attacks are being instigated by Iranian proxies. Britain's chief rabbi, Ephraim Mirvis, has voiced grave concerns, describing the events as part of a "sustained campaign of violence and intimidation" targeting the Jewish community. The attack on the synagogue involved a bottle filled with accelerant being thrown through a window, though thankfully no injuries were reported.

We’ve seen a pattern with other actors of thugs for hire — people taking cash. It looks like quick and easy money.

— Matt JukesDeputy Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, describing the modus operandi.

Jukes emphasized that the police are treating the potential involvement of proxies as a "very serious line of inquiry." He noted similarities to previous cases where individuals were found to be working for groups like Russia's Wagner Group, framing these incidents as part of a modern "hybrid war fought by proxies." The pressure from hostile states infiltrating communities is a significant concern for law enforcement.

This is part of the modern hybrid war fought by proxies.

— Matt JukesDeputy Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, commenting on the nature of the attacks.

A group identified as Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiya (HAYI), which has alleged ties to Iran, has claimed responsibility for several of the recent attacks. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has pledged to bring the perpetrators to justice, while Chief Rabbi Mirvis stressed the urgency of the situation, warning that the community cannot afford to wait for lives to be lost before taking decisive action.

We clearly see the pressure of hostile states bearing into our communities, and policing is going to respond to that.

— Matt JukesDeputy Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, highlighting the geopolitical dimension.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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