British police have arrested a 17-year-old boy and a 19-year-old man in connection with an attempted arson attack over the weekend at the Kenton United Synagogue in Harrow, northwest London. The fire caused minor smoke damage to an internal room, and no injuries were reported.
The incident is the latest in a spate of arson attacks targeting Jewish sites in the British capital in recent weeks. U.K. counter-terrorism police are investigating whether these attacks are the work of Iranian proxies. A pro-Iranian government group, which says it is also behind attacks on U.S., Israeli, and Jewish targets across Europe, has claimed responsibility for the attack on the Kenton United Synagogue.
Britain's chief rabbi warned on Sunday that the Jewish community is facing a sustained campaign of violence and intimidation. A charity that provides security to Britain's Jewish community said the north London synagogue is the most recent target in a wave of incidents targeting their community.