Two people were arrested Monday in connection to an arson attack against a Golders Green memorial wall for Iranian protesters, the Metropolitan Police announced.
Two Romford residents were arrested at the same address, a 46-year-old man and a 38-year-old woman, under suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life in connection to the fire at the Eternal Wall last week.
The memorial wall, located on Limes Avenue in Golders Green, was not damaged by the fire. The memorial is devoted to protesters murdered by the Iranian Islamic Regime. Across the road opposite the Eternal Wall is the Michael Sobell Jewish Community Center, and behind the memorial is the Beis Hamedrash Kehal Chasidim synagogue.
The arrests raises the total of people arrested in connection to attacks on Jewish, Israeli, and Iranian dissident sites in London since March to 30. Nine people have been charged, and one convicted.
Counter Terrorism Policing London head Commander Helen Flanagan said in a statement that her force was committed to protecting “vulnerable communities” in the UK capital.
“With the threat level now raised to severe, everyone can play their part to keep themselves and their communities safe. If you have concerns about someone behaving suspiciously, please report it to us. Your information could help us save lives,” said Flanagan.
Second such attack since March
The attack was the second on an Iranian dissident site in the UK since March, with the news outlet Iran International having been attacked on April 15. Suspected arsonists threw a burning container into the carpark of the news outlet, but the fire died out on its own.
Many of the recent arson attacks were claimed by Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia (HAYI), but as of Monday evening there were no statements issued by the group through the usual Iranian regime linked channels about the memorial wall.
HAYI had taken responsibility for arsons, but also had claimed to have dropped hazardous chemicals onto the embassy with drones. Police found in the area jars filled with an unknown substance that was later revealed to be benign.
The spate of attacks began with the arson of four Hatzola ambulances in the Golders Green area on March 23.
The same day as the Iran International incident, arsonists attempted to attack the Finchley Reform Synagogue by placing bottles with accelerants next to the synagogue and throwing a brick at the alleged firebomb. A building that was once the premises of a Jewish group, still with the organization's name on the window, was the target of an arson attempt on April 17.
Three bottles containing accelerants were placed next to a building and set alight. The bottles failed to fully ignite, but minor damage was caused to the shopfront. On April 19, the Kenton United Synagogue was firebombed, causing minor smoke damage to a room, but no injuries.
The most dangerous incident claimed by HAYI was the Golders Green stabbing attack on Wednesday, in which a 45-year-old Somali-born terrorist wounded two people before being subdued by police and Jewish neighborhood watch volunteers.