A fourth individual has been apprehended in relation to the arson incident involving ambulances owned by a Jewish charity in north London, as confirmed by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).
The prosecution presented the case at Westminster Magistrates‘ Court, indicating that the suspect was taken into custody on Saturday morning within the court premises. Reports indicated that police escorted a man out of the building. The court proceedings revealed that four individuals were involved in the arson attack.
Three suspects charged in connection with the incident appeared in court earlier today and have been remanded in custody. The accused include two British men, Hamza Iqbal, aged 20, and Rehan Khan, aged 19, along with a 17-year-old boy who holds dual British-Pakistani nationality.
All three have been charged with arson with the intent to damage property and recklessness regarding the potential endangerment of life. The Hatzola ambulances were set ablaze in the parking lot of a synagogue located in Golders Green during the early hours of March 23. The court was informed that the damage incurred was nearly £1 million.
Evidence presented in court suggested that the incident was a „premeditated and targeted attack against the Jewish community.“ The three suspects, dressed in grey tracksuits, only spoke to confirm their names and addresses, while several family members were present in the courtroom.
Iqbal and Khan are both residents of Leyton, while the unnamed 17-year-old is from Walthamstow. They were arrested on Wednesday at three separate locations in east London.
Previously, two men aged 45 and 47 were also arrested in connection with the case but have since been released on bail until late April.
Prosecutors are continuing their investigations to determine if an Iranian-backed group, which has claimed responsibility for the attack, was involved. The investigation is being led by counter-terrorism police; however, the Metropolitan Police stated that the incident has not been classified as terrorism at this time.
Cdr Helen Flanagan, who heads Counter Terrorism Policing London, remarked, „Since this appalling attack last week, we have been working continuously to investigate and identify those responsible.“ She acknowledged the remarkable support from the local community following the incident.
In response to the attack, police patrols have been increased in areas with significant Jewish populations. Det Ch Sup Luke Williams, overseeing North West London policing, noted, „We know that local community concerns continue to remain high – particularly for our Jewish communities during the Passover festival period.“ He emphasized that the additional police presence is a precautionary measure and not a response to any specific threat.
The three charged individuals are scheduled to appear in court again at the Old Bailey on April 24.
Bildquelle: Quelle: Foto: Markus Spiske
