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Fourth person charged over arson attack on Jewish community ambulances

An 18-year-old has become the fourth person to be charged in connection with an arson attack on four Jewish community ambulances in Golders Green.

Judex Atshatshi, 18, has been charged with committing arson being reckless as to whether life would be endangered.

He is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Saturday, 18 April.

Atshatshi, a British national, was arrested on April 16 after counter terrorism detectives attended two addresses in east London.

The incident in north-west London in the early hours of March 23 saw the vehicles set on fire outside a synagogue in a suspected anti-Semitic hate crime. 

Another 18-year-old arrested on the same day on suspicion of conspiracy to commit arson with intent to endanger life has been released on bail to a date in July.

Three people have previously been charged in connection with the incident. 

They will next appear at the Old Bailey on Friday, April 24.

Four ambulances from Hatzola, a volunteer-led ambulance service operating in the Golders Green area of north-west London, were set on fire (pictured) in the early hours of March 23

It caused gas canisters stored in the vehicles (pictured, in the aftermath) to explode

The firebombing caused gas canisters in the ambulances, from Hatzola, a volunteer-led service, to explode.

Police said earlier this month the incident was not ‘at this stage’ declared as terrorism – but circumstances meant counter terror detectives have been leading the probe.

Six fire engines and 40 firefighters rushed to Highfield Road, near the Mchzike Hadath synagogue, at about 1.45am on March 23. No one was injured.

CCTV footage showed three hooded figures apparently pouring accelerant on the ambulances and setting them on fire.

The head of the Metropolitan Police said after the attack the force was investigating whether an Islamist group with possible Iranian state links was behind the arson.

Investigators were looking into claims by a suspected Iran-backed group called Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia that it had been behind the attack.

A video was posted on Telegram featuring a map of the location where the ambulances were kept and footage of them on fire.

Gas canisters kept in the ambulances exploded after they were set alight, with nearby homes evacuated as a precaution.

The force of the blasts caused windows to break in a nearby block of flats.

Pictured: Three hooded suspects approach the vehicles before they are set alight

The incident in north-west London in the early hours of March 23 saw the vehicles set on fire outside a synagogue. Pictured: The aftermath

The synagogue, which is one of the oldest in Europe, had its roof damaged and stained glass windows smashed in the fire.

The volunteer-run Jewish organisation Hatzola, founded in 1979, provides free emergency medical response and transportation to hospitals.

In the wake of the arson, the Met deployed an additional 264 officers as well as specialist teams including firearms, the mounted branch and drones, to boost security for Jewish communities in the run up to Passover.

Condemning the ‘deeply shocking’ attack, Sir Keir Starmer said in the aftermath: ‘My thoughts are with the Jewish community who are waking up this morning to this horrific news.

‘Antisemitism has no place in our society. Anyone with any information must come forward to the police.’

Gideon Falter, chief executive of Campaign Against Antisemitism, said: ‘We are absolutely heartbroken that this is how low Britain has sunk.

‘This horrific act truly plumbs new depths.’

Health Secretary Wes Streeting announced the four ambulances would be replaced by vehicles from the London Ambulance Service.

This is a breaking news story. More to follow 

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