Counter terror police investigate attempted 'firebomb' attack at London synagogue

Counter terror police are investigating an attempted 'firebomb' attack at a synagogue in northwest London - the second suspected antisemitic hate crime in as many days.

A Metropolitan Police statement said officers on deterrence and reassurance patrols "noticed damage to a window" of the Kenton United Synagogue at around midnight.

Follow latest: Updates on investigation

"On further inspection they saw smoke inside a room and evidence that a bottle with some sort of accelerant had been thrown through the window," the statement continued.

The force said the incident is being treated as arson.

A Campaign Against Antisemitism spokesperson said: "Last night, another Jewish synagogue in London was firebombed, this time in Kenton. Thankfully, the damage was limited."

A spokesperson for the Community Security Trust (CST) said the attack caused "minor smoke damage to an internal room, but there were no injuries and no significant structural damage".

The UK's Chief Rabbi, Sir Ephraim Mirvis, has called the attack "cowardly" and said "a sustained campaign of violence and intimidation against the Jewish community of the UK is gathering momentum".

The synagogue is close to a school and a children's playground. By Sunday morning, the area was under a large police cordon, with forensics officers, fire investigation dogs and plainclothes officers at the scene.

It comes a day after an arson attack on a building that used to house a Jewish charity elsewhere in northwest London, which is also being investigated as an antisemitic hate crime.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan said the Metropolitan Police have "stepped up resources" in the area.

Read more from Sky News:
Public told not to approach 'dangerous' missing man
Robot beats humans in half-marathon

"There is no place for antisemitism in our city, and the perpetrators of these despicable attacks will face the full force of the law," he wrote in a post on X. "London will always stand united against those seeking to divide us."

Sir Keir Starmer said he was "appalled by recent attempted antisemitic arson attacks in North London" in a social media post.

"This is abhorrent and it will not be tolerated," the prime minister said. "Attacks on our Jewish community are attacks on Britain."

A building that used to belong to a Jewish charity in Hendon, northwest London, was attacked on Friday by a man who lit a plastic bag at the entrance before fleeing.

While Jewish Futures no longer uses the site, the signage still bears its name.

Police are also treating that attack as an antisemitic hate crime and no arrests have been made.

On Friday, suspicious items - including two jars containing powder - were found near the Israeli embassy in west London.

Police said the embassy was not attacked but officers are still investigating whether the items are connected to a video posted by an Iran-linked Islamist group, which claimed to have targeted the building with drones carrying dangerous substances.

The incidents followed a spate of other attacks in recent weeks. Last month, four ambulances run by a Jewish charity were burned down in Golders Green, north London, leading to four arrests.

Two people were also arrested this week after bottles of petrol were thrown at a synagogue in Finchley, northwest London.

(c) Sky News 2026: Counter terror police investigate attempted 'firebomb' attack at London synagogue