A residence in East London was set ablaze, leaving four people with injuries and prompting an investigation into a potential antisemitic hate crime, according to the Metropolitan Police.
A senior citizen was taken into custody on suspicion of arson following the incident, which occurred on Newick Road in Hackney around noon on Wednesday.
The man, detained by police, was reported to have yelled “threatening comments, some of which were allegedly antisemitic,” during the arrest process.
Charges against the individual include suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life and making the purported antisemitic remarks.
The blaze resulted in non-critical injuries for four individuals, and the suspect himself suffered minor injuries and is now receiving medical treatment.
The London Fire Brigade disclosed that a team of around sixty firefighters and eight fire engines were dispatched to extinguish the fire, which severely damaged the first two levels of the three-story building.
Detective Chief Superintendent James Conway stated that the initial belief is that the incident was driven by “a localised housing-related issue,” but the nature of the suspect’s comments during his arrest has led to a deeper probe.
“Upon his arrest, the individual issued several threatening remarks, with some allegedly of an antisemitic nature,” Mr Conway remarked.
“We’re treating this incident with the utmost seriousness as a potential hate crime due to the antisemitic elements.
“The Jewish communities in Hackney and surrounding areas will understandably find this news deeply troubling, and my team and I will be engaging with community partners, including the Community Safety Trust and Shomrim, to address their concerns and hear their perspectives.
“While our investigation is still examining the motive behind this crime, our current belief is that it is linked to a localized housing dispute.
“At this point, early in our investigation, we have no evidence to suggest that the incident is related to any specific local or international events.”
He also mentioned that the Met has increased patrols and visibility in the area as Jewish communities commence the Purim holiday celebrations.
A spokesperson from the Community Security Trust commented: “This seems to be an extremely grave situation, and we are grateful for the prompt response from the police.
“We have been in dialogue with the authorities since the incident and will continue to collaborate with them to ensure the local Jewish community feels safe in the days ahead.”
