London's Metropolitan Police service, or Met, says the investigation into an arson attack on four ambulances belonging to a Jewish community group in north London is being led by counter-terrorism officers, but it has not been declared a terrorist incident "at this stage".

In the early hours of Monday morning the London Fire Brigade was called to an address in Golders Green, which is well known for its large Jewish community.

Four ambulances belonging to an organization called Hatzola, which provides emergency medical response and free hospital transportation, were found to be on fire, with cylinders inside the vehicles exploding, causing damage to nearby properties, which were evacuated as a precaution.

There were no injuries resulting from the incident, which was attended by six fire engines and around 40 fire personnel. An online group has claimed responsibility for the attack, but its authenticity has yet to be confirmed. So far there have been no arrests, but the Met's Detective Chief Superintendent Luke Williams said CCTV footage shows "three people in hoods pouring accelerant onto vehicles before igniting it".

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called it a "horrific antisemitic attack", and said Jewish communities in the area and across the country would understandably be "deeply concerned".

The Jewish Leadership Council, an umbrella organization representing many of the largest Jewish groups across the country, called the attack on the vehicles, which were parked in a synagogue car park, "particularly sickening" and said there had been a "tidal wave of hatred" against Jewish people in recent years.

The local member of Parliament, Sarah Sackman, said Golders Green was "the beating heart of the British Jewish community".

"This is a symbolic act of hatred, and it's why we must do everything in our power, working with government, working with law enforcement agencies, to ensure that the evil perpetrators of this incident feel the full force of the law," she added.

According to the Community Security Trust, a Jewish safety charity, the number of antisemitic incidents reported across the United Kingdom has increased in recent years.

Speaking at the scene of the incident, Health Secretary Wes Streeting said replacement ambulances would be supplied by Tuesday morning, and that there was "no doubt this attack was designed to strike fear into the heart of Jewish people.

"The aim of these attackers is clear," he continued. "They want Jewish people in this country to live smaller lives, to live less Jewish lives, to be less visible as Jewish people ..."

Hatzola representative Laurence Blitz called the response of the emergency services to the incident "magnificent", and also praised Hatzola's volunteers for their support.