Manhunt after attempted arson attack on synagogue

Two suspects are being sought after an attempted arson attack at a synagogue in north London in which two bottles thought to contain petrol were hurled at the building.

The attack on the Finchley Reform Synagogue is being treated as an antisemitic hate crime, according to police.

The Met said the suspects, wearing balaclavas, approached the building at about 01:00 BST and threw a brick and two bottles. No damage or injuries were caused.

Last month, four ambulances belonging to a Jewish community charity were set alight in an arson attack - counter terrorism police are involved with both investigations.

Sarah Sackman, the Labour MP for Finchley and Golders Green, said: "This shocking attempt to harm a local synagogue follows a series of alarming attacks on the Jewish community in Finchley and Golders Green."

She added that she "refuses to allow this to become the new normal".

"British Jews must be free to go about their lives without fear - whether taking their children to nursery or attending synagogue. We do not want to live behind ever higher walls," she said.

Posting on X, Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan said he was "grateful" for the police's response to the attempted attack.

"While thankfully no one was injured, the Met are urging anyone with information to come forward."

The Community Security Trust (CST), a charity which provides security and monitors antisemitism in the UK, said it was "supporting the affected location and are working closely with the police".

The Jewish Leadership Council, which represents Jewish organisations in the UK, said it was "horrified" by the incident.

The Holocaust Educational Trust said the attempted attack was part of "a broader pattern of rising antisemitism, which must be confronted with urgency".

Det Ch Supt Luke Williams said the Met was "aware of the significant concern" the incident will cause in the community, particularly in the wake of the arson attack in Golders Green last month.

He added: "We are working with the affected synagogue and continuing to meet with community leaders.

"I would like to reassure the community that we take incidents of this nature extremely seriously and detectives are working urgently to identify the suspects.

"If you have any CCTV, dash cam footage or information that could help officers please contact the police."

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