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Police arrest suspect in Jewish ambulance arson case in court / Photo: Henry NICHOLLS - AFP/File
Police arrest suspect in Jewish ambulance arson case in court
London police announced Saturday they had arrested another man over an arson attack on ambulances run by a Jewish charity in London -- after officers recognised him at a court hearing over the incident.
Two men and a boy charged over the March 23 attack appeared at a court in Westminster on Saturday and were remanded in custody until later this month.
During the hearing, prosecutor Emma Harraway said another person had been arrested, but did not elaborate.
Then London's Metropolitan Police issued a statement saying officers in court had recognised a 19-year-old man as involved in the attack.
They arrested him for "arson with intent to endanger life", the statement added.
Already on Wednesday, two young men and a boy were arrested at separate addresses in east London and charged over the attack.
They have been identified as British citizens Hamza Iqbal, 20, Rehan Khan, 19, and an unnamed 17-year-old UK-Pakistani dual-national.
They will remain in detention until their next hearing on April 24, the court ruled.
The defendants, charged with arson that was "reckless as to whether life would be endangered", spoke only to confirm their identity.
The trio showed "significant premeditation and planning, including actions to hide" their offence, said Harraway.
She told the court there was strong evidence that this was "a premeditated and targeted attack against the Jewish community".
One of the lines of inquiry is to determine "whether this case falls under the National Security Act 2023", she said, referring to anti-terrorism legislation.
The vehicles targeted were run by Hatzola, a volunteer organisation that provides free medical transportation and emergency response in north London.
They were parked next to a synagogue in the Golders Green area of northwest London, home to a significant Jewish population.
The damage caused by the attack was valued at £1 million, the court heard.
Two other men in their 40s were arrested over the attack and then released on bail on March 25.
A little-known Islamist group with possible links to Iran has claimed responsibility.
The Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiya (HAYI) group -- the Islamic Movement of the People of the Right Hand -- has also claimed responsibility for similar attacks in Belgium and the Netherlands.
S.Lapointe--SMC
