Counter-terrorism police are investigating a suspected arson attack at a former synagogue in east London.
Jewish security charity Shomrim said that fire crews were called out to the building in Nelson Street, Whitechapel in the early hours of Tuesday.
The incident is being investigated alongside a number of attacks on Jewish sites in London since late March.
Details of the latest attempted arson emerged as Keir Starmer was hosting a summit at Downing Street on Tuesday on the UK’s response to a surge in antisemitism.
The Prime Minister warned Iran that efforts to stir up violence and hatred in the UK “will not be tolerated” amid suspicions Tehran could be backing antisemitic attacks.
The Metropolitan Police said officers were called just before 5.15am by the London Fire Brigade and that minor damage had been caused to a set of gates and a lock at the front of the building.
CCTV showed that the fire had been started deliberately minutes before, the force said.
🔥 Fire in Disused Synagogue Treated as Arson
— Shomrim (London North & East) (@Shomrim) May 5, 2026
🚒 @LondonFire were called to a fire at a former synagogue on Nelson Street, E1, in the early hours of the morning.
🎥 Initial CCTV enquiries indicate that the fire was started deliberately.
👮 Counter @TerrorismPolice detectives… pic.twitter.com/fdFu5aIwhz
Detective Chief Superintendent Brittany Clarke said: “We are taking this incident extremely seriously and we will be working closely with colleagues from Counter Terrorism Policing to support the investigation.
“The building targeted has not been operational as a synagogue for some years but that will be of little comfort to the Jewish community in Tower Hamlets, Hackney and beyond, who are first in my thoughts this morning.
“Local residents can expect to see an increased police presence in the area while inquiries into this incident continue.”
Shomrim has increased its security patrols following a swathe of attacks on the Jewish community in London.
Last week, two Jewish men were stabbed in broad daylight in the Highfield Avenue and Golders Green Road area.
A 45-year-old British national, named as Essa Suleiman, was apprehended at the scene by members of the public and Shomrim, before being Tasered and arrested by Metropolitan Police.
He has since been charged with attempted murder in relation to the Golders Green stabbings, as well as a separate incident in Southwark earlier the same day.
On April 15, Finchley Reform Synagogue was the target of an attempted arson attack.
On April 27, a suspected arson attack was carried out at a memorial wall in Golders Green.
A section of the wall is used to commemorate those killed in the 2023 Hamas attack on the Nova music festival in Israel.
In March, four ambulances belonging to the Jewish emergency service Hatzola were set ablaze in Golders Green.
At the summit on Tuesday Prime Minister told leaders of community groups, senior Government ministers and police chiefs that there would be “consequences” if Iran was found to be behind some of the incidents.
Describing the situation as a “crisis” in the wake of the Golders Green stabbing attack, Sir Keir said new legislation would be rushed through to tackle “malign threats”.
He said: “One of the lines of inquiry is whether a foreign state has been behind some of these incidents.
“We are investigating, of course, all the possibilities.
“And we are clear that these actions will have consequences if that proves to be the case.
“Our message to Iran or to any other country that might seek to foment violence, hatred or division in society is that it will not be tolerated.
“That is why we are fast-tracking legislation to tackle these malign threats.”
