Four men have admitted deliberately setting fire to four Jewish community ambulances in Golders Green, north-west London, an attack prosecutors say caused about £1m of damage and which the Crown will argue was linked to terrorism when the matter goes before the court for sentencing.
Guilty pleas and next steps
At the Old Bailey on Friday, Hamza Iqbal, 20; Rehan Khan, 19; Judex Atshatshi, 18; and Saif Ali, 18, pleaded guilty to a charge of destroying or damaging property being reckless whether life would be endangered. The four were remanded into custody and are expected to be sentenced next spring.
The attack occurred in the early hours of 23 March. Prosecutors say three of the men set fire to the ambulances, operated by the volunteer charity Hatzola, while a fourth waited in a nearby car. Gas canisters in the vehicles exploded after they were ignited.
"Hatzola, the Hebrew word for save or rescue, is a large non-profit, Jewish-led organisation that provides a free emergency medical response and transportation to hospitals regardless of faith by volunteer medics," the court heard.
Extent of the damage
The four ambulances were described in court as fully stocked and each valued at approximately £250,000. In addition to the vehicles, the blaze damaged four electrical charging stations and cables, at about £5,000 each, bringing the estimated total loss to around £1m.
| Defendant | Age | Address (as reported) |
|---|---|---|
| Hamza Iqbal | 20 | Leyton |
| Rehan Khan | 19 | Leyton |
| Judex Atshatshi | 18 | Dagenham |
| Saif Ali | 18 | Walthamstow |
Prosecution seeks terrorism-related sentence
Leo Seelig, prosecuting, told the court the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) will be arguing that the four should be sentenced on the basis that the arson attack was related to terrorism. The trial judge, Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb, declined to rule on that question at the plea hearing, noting that a separate trial of a fifth man, Subhan Ahmed, who denies assisting an offender, will affect the sentencing timetable.
Defence counsel argued there was no evidence to support a terrorism link at this stage; the judge said the question would be decided later.
Impact on community emergency services
Hatzola is a long-established volunteer emergency medical service which has served north London since 1979. The charity operates free emergency response and hospital transport regardless of faith and relies on volunteer medics and community funding. The loss of four front-line vehicles and their equipment represents a significant operational and financial hit.
- Vehicles destroyed: Four fully stocked ambulances, each valued at about £250,000.
- Infrastructure damage: Four electrical charging stations and cables, about £5,000 each.
- Estimated total loss: Approximately £1m.
The court heard that the vehicles were deliberately targeted. Prosecutors said the attack was believed to be directed at the Jewish community; the Community Security Trust and other organisations have been involved in supporting affected volunteers and advising on security measures since the incident.
Wider context
Attacks on community emergency services are rare but carry an outsized impact because they directly reduce capacity to respond to medical emergencies. In addition to the material loss, such incidents can deepen fear and mistrust in communities that rely on volunteer services.
The outcome of the trial of Subhan Ahmed will inform sentencing for the four who pleaded guilty. For now, the four remain in custody ahead of their sentencing next spring.
As this case progresses, investigators and prosecutors will be required to demonstrate whether the fire was motivated by ideology or other factors before the court can apply terrorism-related sentencing principles. The decision will carry consequences not only for the individuals involved but for legal precedent on how arson against community services is classified where a religious or communal angle is alleged.
This report is drawn from court reporting and prosecutorial statements made at the Old Bailey; no new interviews were conducted for this item.
