Third person arrested over Finchley synagogue attempted arson attack

Anti-terror police investigating a suspected arson attack on a synagogue in north London have arrested a third person.

The 19-year-old man was arrested on Thursday in Portsmouth on suspicion of attempted arson, and remains in custody, the Metropolitan Police said.

Officers are treating the 15 April incident at Finchley Reform Synagogue as an antisemitic hate crime and counter-terror officers are leading the investigation.

CCTV showed two people in dark clothing and balaclavas approaching the synagogue in Fallow Court Avenue and throwing two bottles and a brick at the building.

Neither bottle ignited, and no damage was reported. There were no injuries.

A 38-year-old woman and a 46-year-old man had already been arrested in Watford last month on suspicion of arson endangering life and are now on bail until July.

The Finchley case comes amid a number of other attacks in London that also being treated as antisemitic.

A double stabbing in Golders Green on April 29 saw two Jewish men, Shloime Rand, 34, and Moshe Ben Baila, 76, also known as Norman Shine, taken to hospital.

The alleged attacker, Essa Suleiman, 45, is also accused of attempting to murder his long-time friend of 20 years, Ishmail Hussein, in a knife attack at Hussein's flat in Southwark, earlier the same day.

Suleiman appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court last Friday charged with attempted murder, where he was remanded into custody.

On April 18, a teenage boy smashed the window of Kenton United Synagogue in Harrow before lighting a bottle and throwing it inside, Westminster Magistrates' Court heard. A 17-year-old admitted arson not endangering life.

The day before, a former Jewish charity building was attacked in Hendon, Barnet, where a plastic bag later found to contain three bottles of fluid was set alight.

In March, four Jewish community ambulances belonging to volunteer-led ambulance service Hatzola were torched in Golders Green.

The resulting fire caused gas canisters inside the ambulances to explode, resulting in around £1 million of damage.

Commander Helen Flanagan said: "We are continuing to make progress in all our ongoing investigations linked to various recent arson attacks across London.

"Counter-terrorism officers continue to work closely with our colleagues in the Metropolitan Police in response to the incidents. We're providing protective security advice and support to various organisations, community venues and businesses."

The UK terror threat was raised to severe after the Golders Green attack and Met Police have said an initial 100 extra officers will be deployed to help protect the Jewish community.

(c) Sky News 2026: Third person arrested over Finchley synagogue attempted arson attack