Two teenagers arrested over attack on Harrow synagogue

20th April, 2026 | News

A 17-year-old boy and a 19-year-old man have been arrested in connection with an arson attack on a synagogue in northwest London, police have confirmed.

According to the Metropolitan Police, the suspects were taken into custody overnight following the incident at the Kenton United Synagogue in Harrow. Deputy Commissioner Matt Jukes said the building was targeted in the early hours of Sunday with what appeared to be a “firebomb”.

Police revealed that a bottle containing an accelerant was thrown through a window, causing minor smoke damage inside the synagogue. Fortunately, no injuries were reported and there was no major structural damage.

Authorities say the attack is part of a wider pattern of incidents targeting Jewish communities and groups perceived to oppose the Iranian government. In recent weeks, several related attacks have been reported across London, including fires set outside residential buildings and assaults on Jewish-linked organisations.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans noted that many of the incidents have been claimed online by a group known as Ashab al-Yamin, which is believed to have carried out similar attacks across Europe. Investigators are also examining potential links between the group and Iran, including the possibility of criminal proxies being used to carry out attacks.

Speaking about the arrests, Jukes described the incidents as part of a “modern hybrid war” in which individuals may be recruited with financial incentives to carry out acts of violence.

So far, police have made 15 arrests in connection with six separate incidents targeting Jewish premises, a Jewish ambulance service, and a Persian media organisation.

Reacting to the synagogue attack, Ephraim Mirvis condemned it as “cowardly,” warning of a growing campaign of intimidation against the UK’s Jewish community.

Investigations remain ongoing as authorities work to determine the full extent of the network behind the attacks.