London’s Met Police are under scrutiny after multiple arson attacks, threats near the Israeli embassy, and firearms cache concerns.
A 17-year-old boy has pleaded guilty to arson at Kenton United Synagogue in Harrow. The attack is part of a series of recent arson incidents targeting Jewish sites across the UK, with police investigating possible links to Iran and Islamist groups. No injuries have been reported.
On 13 February 2026, the UK High Court ruled the government's proscription of Palestine Action as a terrorist group unlawful, citing disproportionate interference with free speech and assembly rights. The ban remains temporarily in place pending appeal. Since July 2025, over 2,700 arrests have been made under the ban, sparking widespread protests and legal challenges.
A 22-year-old man, Lorik Abazi, was fatally stabbed at Valley Retail Park in Croydon. Police arrested seven suspects, including women and men, on suspicion of murder and affray. The incident occurred early Sunday morning, and investigations are ongoing. The victim's family is being supported by officers.
Lord Mandelson was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office related to allegations of passing sensitive government information to Jeffrey Epstein. The arrest followed claims he planned to flee to the British Virgin Islands, which he denies. The police have apologized for revealing details of the investigation.
On March 4, 2026, UK police arrested three men aged 39, 43, and 68 in London and Wales on suspicion of assisting China's foreign intelligence service, violating the National Security Act 2023. The investigation is ongoing with no imminent public threat. One suspect is linked to Labour MP Joani Reid, who denies involvement. The arrests heighten tensions amid UK-China espionage concerns.
A child has been detained in South Yorkshire over social media posts encouraging violent confrontations between school groups, part of a wider UK trend. Police have monitored and disrupted the online activity, which originated in London and spread nationally, raising concerns about youth violence and online safety.
On March 19, 2026, two men, Nematollah Shahsavani and Alireza Farasati, were charged in London under the UK's National Security Act for allegedly conducting hostile surveillance on Israeli and Jewish sites between July and August 2025. The suspects face accusations of spying on embassies, synagogues, and community centers on behalf of Iranian intelligence. Both remain in custody pending trial.
A 58-year-old man, now residing in the UK, faces charges of murder, torture, and crimes against humanity linked to his role in suppressing protests in Syria's Damascus suburb in 2011. This marks the first time such charges are brought under UK law for international crimes committed abroad.
British authorities have charged Salem al-Salem, a former Syrian Air Force Intelligence colonel, with war crimes including murder and torture related to 2011 protests in Damascus. He appeared via video with a breathing tube due to illness. This marks the first UK prosecution of its kind for crimes against humanity committed abroad.
On March 11, 2026, UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood approved a police request to ban the annual Al Quds Day march in London, citing risks of serious public disorder amid ongoing Middle East conflicts. The ban, the first on a protest march since 2012, also applies to counter-protests. A stationary rally will be permitted under strict police conditions.
Pro-Palestinian protests in London were restricted amid fears of disorder linked to ongoing conflicts in Gaza and Iran. Authorities banned a march for the first time since 2012, citing security concerns, while allowing static demonstrations on both sides of the River Thames. Police made 12 arrests during the events.
London police are managing multiple protests related to Al-Quds Day, with authorities deploying over 1,000 officers. The events include a banned march by the Islamic Human Rights Commission and counter-protests, with police using the River Thames as a barrier to prevent clashes amid tensions over Iran and Palestine support.
On March 23, four ambulances belonging to the Jewish volunteer service Hatzola in Golders Green, London, were set on fire in an antisemitic arson attack. Police seek three suspects. Separately, a fire at a Czech arms manufacturer’s warehouse in Pardubice, linked to drone tech used by Ukraine, is under terrorism investigation with three suspects detained in Czechia and Slovakia.
Large groups of young people gathered in Clapham, south London, causing disorder over several days. Police responded with dispersal orders, arrests, and increased patrols. The incidents, fueled by social media trends, led to shop closures and concerns among residents. Authorities warn of further unrest during the Easter holidays.
On April 4, three young men—Hamza Iqbal, 20, Rehan Khan, 19, and a 17-year-old dual British-Pakistani national—were charged with arson and reckless endangerment for a March 23 fire that destroyed four ambulances in Golders Green, London. The attack targeted Hatzola ambulances near a synagogue and is being investigated as an antisemitic hate crime. A fourth suspect was also arrested. The case is led by counterterrorism police but not classified as terrorism. The defendants will appear at the Old Bailey on April 24.
On April 11, 2026, London's Metropolitan Police arrested 523 protesters supporting Palestine Action during a sit-down demonstration in Trafalgar Square. The group was banned as a terrorist organisation in July 2025, but the High Court ruled the ban unlawful in February 2026. Despite this, police resumed arrests in late March as the government appeals the ruling. Over 3,000 arrests have been made since the ban.
Somali police have conducted a counter-terrorism operation in Lower Shabelle, killing militant leader Zakariye and wounding two others. The operation aims to disrupt Al-Shabaab's illegal taxation and militant activities, seizing weapons and receipts. It follows recent increased militant activity and ongoing efforts supported by international partners.
Since early April 2026, multiple attempted arson attacks have targeted synagogues and Jewish community sites in north London, including Finchley, Golders Green, Hendon, and Kenton. Police have arrested two suspects linked to an attack on Finchley Reform Synagogue. A pro-Iranian group has claimed responsibility for several incidents. Authorities have increased security and counter-terrorism efforts.
London police have reported multiple arson attempts targeting Jewish and Iranian-linked sites over the past week. Authorities are investigating these incidents, which are not currently classified as terrorism, but are linked to rising tensions related to Iran. Several suspects have been arrested, and the investigation is ongoing.
Police in London have charged three British nationals over an attempted arson at Iran International's offices in Wembley. The incident involved a container thrown towards the premises, which landed in a car park and caused no injuries or damage. The suspects are due in court today amid rising tensions linked to recent attacks on Jewish and Iranian community sites.
Police in the UK have arrested two teenagers following a series of arson attacks on Jewish sites, including a synagogue in Harrow. The incidents are linked to a newly formed Iran-backed group, Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiya, which claims responsibility for multiple attacks across Europe. Authorities suspect Iran is hiring local criminals to carry out these acts as part of a broader proxy war.