London's Metropolitan Police announced Wednesday the arrest of two suspects in the terrorist attack on a synagogue and United Hatzalah emergency vehicles in London, after an Iranian-operated terror organization claimed responsibility for the assault.
The two suspects, aged 45 and 47, were apprehended at separate apartments in central London. No identifying details were released, nor was any information provided about the organizational affiliations of those arrested.
Helen Flanagan, head of the Metropolitan Police's counter-terrorism unit and the lead investigator on the case, said, "We have been working around the clock since this appalling attack took place, and that has led to these arrests this morning."
"This appears to be an important breakthrough in the investigation, but we are also aware that the CCTV footage of the incident indicates that at least three people were involved. We fully understand that the local community will still be concerned, and our investigation remains very active – we will continue to work to identify and arrest anyone else who may have been involved," she said.
"I would like to thank the public and in particular the local Jewish community in the area for their continued support, and to repeat our appeal for anyone with information that could assist the investigation to contact us."
On Monday, the terrorist organization Ashab al-Yaamin claimed responsibility for the terrorist attack on the Machzikei HaDat (Hebrew for "upholders of the faith") synagogue in London, in a video it distributed on social media. The group's statement – offering a somewhat unusual historical explanation for the attack and written in Hebrew – stated, "The Machzikei HaDat synagogue in London is one of the most important centers of Haredi Judaism, and its deepest connection with Israel runs through Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook, one of the most influential rabbis in religious Zionism, who served as a rabbi at this synagogue before making aliyah to Israel."
"This historical connection continues to this day, and the synagogue has become one of the central hubs of support for Israel in Britain – to such an extent that in 2024, Rishi Sunak, Britain's prime minister at the time, visited the site at the height of the Gaza war to underscore his country's resolute support for Israel."
