Counter-terrorism detectives have arrested two people in connection with an arson attack on a memorial wall in north London that displays photographs of Iranian protesters allegedly killed by the regime in Tehran.
A 46-year-old man and a 38-year-old woman were detained at an address in Romford on Monday morning on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life. Both remain in custody at a London police station, while officers continue to search the property where the arrests were made.
The pair are being questioned over a fire reported at the memorial in Limes Avenue, NW11, in the early hours of Monday, 27 April. According to the Metropolitan Police, the blaze broke out shortly after 12.15am, although the force was not alerted to the incident until around 7.30pm that evening. The wall carries images of demonstrators said to have been killed by the Iranian state in January.
The arrests form part of a wider Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP) operation examining a string of incidents in north-west London. According to the Met, 30 people have now been arrested across the various inquiries, with nine of them charged.
Commander Helen Flanagan, head of CTP London, said the breakthrough followed sustained work by detectives. “We are committed to protecting vulnerable communities in the capital,” she said. “Detectives have been conducting extensive enquiries since this incident was reported to us last week and these two arrests are the result of that hard work.”
She added that counter-terrorism officers were continuing to work alongside Metropolitan Police colleagues, providing protective security advice to organisations, community venues and businesses across the capital.
The investigation sits within a far broader policing response that began after an arson attack on Hatzola ambulances in Golders Green in March. Since then, the Met has launched what it describes as the most intensive set of community operations in its history, deploying thousands of additional officer shifts, armed patrols and specialist Project Servator teams trained to identify individuals who may be preparing to commit criminal acts.
With the national threat level recently raised to severe, Commander Flanagan urged the public to remain alert. “Everyone can play their part to keep themselves and their communities safe,” she said. “If you have concerns about someone behaving suspiciously, please report it to us. Your information could help us save lives.”
Anyone with information about the memorial wall fire is asked to contact police on 101, quoting reference CAD 7308/27APR, or to call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
