18‑year‑old charged in London arson of Jewish ambulances

An 18-year-old man has been charged in connection with a March arson attack that destroyed four ambulances belonging to a Jewish volunteer medical charity in north London. Subhan Ahmed, from Walthamstow, is the fifth person to face charges over the incident, which is being investigated as an antisemitic hate crime by counter-terrorism police.

Ahmed was charged on Monday, June 8, with assisting an offender. Authorities allege he made arrangements to scrap his car to help others avoid arrest or prosecution. He has been bailed with strict conditions and is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, June 16. The Crown Prosecution Service stated there was sufficient evidence to bring the case to court.

The attack occurred around 1:35 a.m. on Monday, March 23, in the Golders Green area, which has a large Jewish population. Four fully stocked ambulances belonging to Hatzola Northwest, a volunteer-led organization providing medical care, were set on fire. The resulting blaze caused gas canisters inside the vehicles to explode, resulting in an estimated £1 million in damage. Nearby flats and a synagogue were also damaged, and residents were evacuated as a precaution.