UK police arrest two teens in ‘thugs for hire’ Jewish site attack

UK police said Monday they had arrested two teenagers after the latest arson attack on sites including Jewish ones in London, bringing the number of arrests for six incidents to 15.

Matt Jukes, deputy commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, said the new apprehensions came amid a pattern of “thugs for hire” as the United Kingdom sees “the pressure of hostile states bearing into our communities”.

The London force has been probing whether the attacks have been instigated by Iranian proxies, as Britain’s chief rabbi warns of “a sustained campaign of violence and intimidation” against Jews in the UK.

In the latest incident late Saturday, a bottle containing “some sort of accelerant” was thrown through a window of Kenton United Synagogue in Harrow, northwest London, according to police.

Smoke was seen inside the room, but no injuries were reported, police said.

“I’m really pleased to say that overnight, we have news of two arrests in relation to that incident, 17- and 19-year-old males,” Jukes told BBC Radio 4.

Police said they remained in custody early Monday.