Counter-terror police probe Hendon arson after Iran-linked group claims responsibility

**TL;DR** **Counter-terrorism police are investigating an arson attack on a Hendon business after an Iran‑linked group claimed responsibility via Telegram.** No injuries were reported and the motive remains under review.

**Context** At approximately 10.30 pm on Friday, officers responded to a fire at a shopfront in Hendon, north‑west London. A man was seen approaching the premises with a plastic bag containing three bottles of fluid; the bottles failed to fully ignite and he fled. The London Fire Brigade attended, and the business sustained minor damage.

**Key Facts** Counter Terrorism Policing London is leading the investigation. Commander Helen Flanagan stated the arson is not currently linked to other recent incidents but that similarities prompted the deployment of counter‑terrorism officers. An Islamist group with ties to Iran claimed responsibility for targeting Jewish Futures, an educational charity, through a Telegram announcement. The group, known as Harakat Ashab al‑Yamin al‑Islamia, previously claimed attacks on volunteer ambulances in Golders Green, a synagogue in Finchley, and a Persian‑language media organisation in Park Royal; those claims have not been verified. A video circulating online appears to show an incendiary device being prepared, though its timing is unclear.

**What It Means** The investigation remains open, with police treating the incident as a potential hate‑motivated act while keeping an open mind about terrorism links. Local officials have increased patrols, including armed officers and Project Servator teams, to reassure the community and deter further offenses. No arrests have been made, and authorities continue to seek public information.

Watch for updates on any arrests, forensic findings, and whether the claimed responsibility is substantiated by further evidence.