Fourth suspect in London arson attack on Jewish ambulances remanded in custody

Judex Atshatshi, 18, a British national from Dagenham, east London, appeared at Westminster magistrates court on Saturday, charged with arson with intent to damage property and being reckless as to whether life would be endangered.

During a short hearing, Atshatshi spoke to confirm his name, date of birth and address and was remanded in custody. Prosecutors say they believe the incident was a targeted attack against the Jewish community.

The ambulances from Hatzola, a volunteer-led ambulance service operating in the Golders Green area, were set on fire on the morning of 23 March, causing gas canisters stored in the vehicles to explode and resulting in £1m of damage, prosecutors say.

Two British men, Hamza Iqbal, 20, and Rehan Khan, 19, from Leyton, east London, and a 17-year-old boy, of dual British-Pakistani nationality, from Walthamstow, were charged with arson, being reckless as to whether life would be endangered, and remanded in custody in early April.

Atshatshi was arrested on Thursday after counter-terrorism detectives attended two addresses in east London, the Metropolitan police said.

Another 18-year-old arrested on the same day on suspicion of conspiracy to commit arson with intent to endanger life has been released on bail until a date in July. The four defendants are due to appear at the Old Bailey on 24 April.

Frank Ferguson, the head of the Crown Prosecution Service’s special crime and counter-terrorism division, said: “We have worked closely with the Metropolitan police’s counter-terrorism command as it carried out its investigation.

“We remind all concerned that criminal proceedings against these defendants are active and that they have the right to a fair trial. It is vital that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.”

Hatzola services began in New York City in the 1960s. They operate an augmented ambulance service in Hasidic communities, but serve everyone in need.

Andrew Walters, an Orthodox Jewish councillor in Greater Manchester, said in March: “It’s not just a Jewish service. If a call comes from within the area, they will come to your aid, whoever you are. There’s no cost to anyone, and even on the sabbath, they’ll go to any case.”