British counter-terrorism police are investigating an arson attack on a shop in an area of London with a large Jewish population, authorities said on Saturday.
The incident happened late Friday in Hendon, in the northwest of Britain’s capital.
“A man was seen to approach a row shops with a plastic bag containing what was later found to be three bottles containing fluid,” police said in a statement.
“He placed the bag next to the building and lit the items in the bag. The bottles failed to fully ignite and the man fled the scene.”
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Antisemitic incidents raise fears
Officials did not specify the business targeted but said it caused minor damage. However, no one was injured in the attack.
The UK has seen a spate of similar incidents in recent weeks.
There was a separate arson attack on a synagogue in nearby Finchley on Wednesday.
In late March, four Jewish community ambulances were torched in Golders Green, also in north London.
Little-known group Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiya (HAYI), with links to Iran, claimed responsibility for the attacks on the synagogue and ambulances, according to SITE Intelligence Group. The group previously claimed similar attacks in Belgium and the Netherlands.
What did police say about the probe?
Authorities said they were keeping an open mind about the motive behind the latest attack and not treating it as a terrorist incident.
But they added counter-terrorism officers were leading the investigation because of similarities with the earlier attacks, even though they were not formally linking the latest one to others at this stage.
“I know this latest incident will add to fears in the community,” said Detective Chief Superintendent Luke Williams, who leads policing in the area.
He said police patrols, including armed officers, would be increased.
Edited by: Wesley Dockery
