Police investigate suspected arson attack at former synagogue in east London

Minor damage to gates is believed to have been caused by fire that CCTV shows was started deliberately, Met says Counter-terrorism police are investigating whether a fire at a former synagogue in east London is part of an arson campaign linked to Iran. Police said the latest fire broke out at the building on Nelson Street, in Tower Hamlets. The synagogue, which is of cultural significance to London’s Jewish community, had been disused since 2020, and a Muslim group had recently been trying to buy it. It has Hebrew lettering on its exterior and a Star of David at its entrance, which was protected by a gate. The damage from the fire appeared to be minor and confined to the pavement. Last year “free Palestine” and “kill the zionists” was daubed on the building’s exterior. Witnesses to Tuesday morning’s attack said an attempt was made to break the window and throw something through it, similar to previous attacks on synagogues in Finchley and Harrow last month. At least two men wearing hoods were caught on CCTV carrying out the attack. The Metropolitan police said CCTV captured the fire being started deliberately at 5.10am, hours before Keir Starmer held talks on how to better protect