Four appear at Old Bailey over Golders Green ambulance arson attack

Three men and a teenager have made their first appearance at the Old Bailey charged in connection with an arson attack on Jewish community ambulances in north-west London, an incident prosecutors have described as a targeted assault on the Jewish community.
Hamza Iqbal, 20, Rehan Khan, 19, Judex Atshatshi, 18, and a 17-year-old boy, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, attended the preliminary Crown Court hearing together. All four were remanded in custody until a plea hearing scheduled for 28 August.
What prosecutors say happened in Golders Green
The charges relate to an incident in the early hours of 23 March, when four fully stocked ambulances operated by the Jewish charity Hatzola were set alight in Golders Green, triggering explosions. The damage caused to the vehicles and their medical equipment has been estimated at around £1 million, with nearby flats and a synagogue also affected.
According to the prosecution, three people are alleged to have set fire to the vehicles while a fourth waited in a blue Toyota Avensis. Iqbal, Khan and the teenager have each been charged with arson being reckless as to whether life would be endangered. Mr Atshatshi faces a charge of arson with intent to damage and being reckless as to whether life would be endangered.
A further 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 until a date in July.
Why counter-terrorism officers are examining wider links
Beyond the Old Bailey proceedings, the investigation is being looked at within a broader context. Counter-terrorism officers at the Metropolitan Police are examining whether the Golders Green attack forms part of a pattern connecting several recent incidents targeting places and people with Jewish connections in the capital, among them two synagogues in north London and a Jewish business.
Detectives are also pursuing claims that the attacks may have been carried out on behalf of an Iranian-linked group, which has posted videos online relating to the incidents. That strand of inquiry sits alongside the criminal case now working its way through the Crown Court, and is likely to shape how authorities frame the wider threat picture in the months ahead.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​