LONDON — British counter-terrorism police are investigating a coordinated series of arson attacks targeting Jewish-owned businesses, community centers, and a synagogue across London, with investigators actively examining connections to Iranian proxy networks believed to be operating inside the United Kingdom.
The attacks, which occurred over a span of several weeks, were initially treated as isolated incidents of hate crime. But the pattern of targeting, the timing, and intelligence gathered by MI5 led authorities to broaden the investigation into potential state-directed terrorism, according to sources familiar with the inquiry.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper addressed Parliament this week, confirming that the investigation was being handled jointly by the Metropolitan Police's Counter Terrorism Command and domestic intelligence services. She declined to specify the number of incidents under review but acknowledged that the threat from Iran-linked actors inside Britain is significant and ongoing.
Israel's ambassador to the United Kingdom called the attacks a direct extension of Iran's war against the Jewish people and urged British authorities to take the threat seriously at the highest diplomatic levels.
Iran's government denied any involvement. This is not unusual. Iran has denied involvement in several other attacks on Jewish and Israeli-linked targets across Europe in recent years that intelligence services later attributed to IRGC-directed networks.
Several arrests have been made in connection with the investigation, though British authorities have declined to disclose the nationalities or identities of those detained pending charges.
Jewish community leaders in London say they have significantly increased security at major institutions and urged members to remain vigilant. The Board of Deputies of British Jews called the situation a moment of real danger and urged the government to expel known Iranian intelligence operatives operating under diplomatic cover.