Image source, Reuters

Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis says the arson attack in Golders Green is the latest in "a series of antisemitic crime incidents right around the globe".

Speaking at the scene of the fire, he says: "We have to view this in the most serious light."

Mirvis says the community is "standing tall", adding that individuals are proud to be Jewish and proud of their values.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Paul Askew, speaking on behalf of the London Fire Brigade, says the rescue service's control room had received 56 calls reporting the fire on Highfield Road.

Askew says the fire was already "well developed" once the LFB arrived and that cylinders in the four ambulances had exploded due to the heat.

He adds that the fire was safely extinguished overnight and that the brigade's community engagement service had visited a nearby rest centre to support residents who had been evacuated from the area as a precaution.

More now from Detective Chief Superintendent Luke Williams, who gave an update to the media.

He says the police believe they are looking at three suspects. He describes CCTV footage showing "three people in hoods pouring accelerant onto vehicles before igniting it".

As we just reported, he says the attacks have not been declared a terrorist incident at this stage, but the investigation is now being led by counter-terrorism policing "with all the specialist expertise they bring".

He adds that "all lines of enquiry remain open".

The police are aware of an online claim from a group taking responsibility, but are not able to confirm it at this point, he says. "Establishing authenticity will be a priority."

He confirms no arrests have been made at this point.

Detective Chief Superintendent Luke Williams says the arson attacks have not been declared a terrorist incident "at this stage" - but he says the investigation is being led by counter-terrorism officers.

We'll have more lines from him soon.

We'll have the key lines on this page - and you can watch live at the top of the page.

We've just heard from Health Secretary Wes Streeting in Golders Green - and we're shortly expecting to hear from the Met Police and the London Fire Brigade as well.

We'll bring you the key lines, and you can watch live at the top of the page.

Laurence Blitz, speaking on behalf of Hatzola alongside Wes Streeting, says the incident was "shocking in the extreme".

He describes the work of the emergency services who responded to the attack as "magnificent", adding that Hatzola was grateful for the replacement ambulances that had been provided on loan.

Blitz says: "Our phones haven't stopped. Our volunteers are responding to call-outs and our service continues unbroken."

As well as loaning ambulances, the government will fund the replacement of the four destroyed, Health Secretary Wes Streeting says.

"The Jewish community should not be left footing the bill for this appalling attack on a brilliant ambulance service," he says.

Streeting adds: "Those responsible for this attack must know that the Jewish community will not face up to this hatred alone. The whole country will stand with them."

Streeting says there is "no doubt" that the attack was intended to "strike fear into heart" of the Jewish community in Golders Green and across the country.

He says attackers want people to "live smaller lives", "less Jewish lives", but adds that he knows the community "won't be cowed" by this "despicable act of evil".

Everyone needs to "stand up and speak up" across country, he adds, saying "practical solidarity" is the "best form of solidarity".

The ambulance service is providing practical support to ensure emergency teams "won't skip a beat on emergency call outs", Streeting says.

He adds that four replacement ambulances will be provided on loan by tomorrow morning, until permanent replacements can be found.

The health secretary is at the scene in Golders Green, and is speaking to reporters. We'll have the key lines here shortly.

Image source, PA

Four ambulances belonging to a Jewish community ambulance service in north London have been set on fire in what the Metropolitan Police call an antisemitic hate crime.

Here's what we know so far:

• The London Fire Brigade was called to Highfield Road in Golders Green at around 01:40 GMT - multiple cylinders in the Hatzola ambulances exploded, leading to windows in nearby flats breaking
• Six fire engines and 40 firefighters were sent to contain the blaze, while 30 people were taken to a nearby shelter after homes were evacuated as a precaution
• Three suspects can be seen walking towards an ambulance before setting it on fire in CCTV footage - see our videos at the top of the page
• Local residents said they were woken by "loud bangs and the glow of flames lighting up the street", with neighbours saying they are "terrified" by the incident

• Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the incident "deeply shocking" and "horrific", while also urging anyone with information to come forward to the police

Image source, PA Media

We can now bring you some more reaction to the overnight arson attacks in north London.

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch says "all of us need to make it clear in our words and actions that Britain will not tolerate antisemitism". She says community members in Golders Green told her "just last week" that they live in fear of "constant attacks".

London Mayor Sadiq Khan calls it a "cowardly attack on the Jewish community" and insists "Londoners will never be cowed by this kind of hatred and intimidation".

The Jewish Leadership Council says it is "particularly sickening that someone's hatred of Jews drives them to target vital ambulance services". It describes a "tidal wave of hatred" against Jewish people in recent years.

The council chair of the British Medical Association, Tom Dolphin, calls antisemitism "abhorrent" and attacks on healthcare services "reprehensible". He says: "This horrendous incident involves both."

Earlier, we also brought you the PM's statement and reaction from the Liberal Democrats, the Greens and Reform UK.

Lucy Manning
Special correspondent, reporting from Golders Green

Image source, EPA

In Golders Green the smell of smoke is in the air.

Jack Taub on the leadership team of the Machzike Hadath Synagogue, where the attack took place, explained that the Hatzola ambulances were parked in its car park.

He said the synagogue’s stained glass windows had been blown out by the explosion, the roof was damaged and there was also smoke damage.

Although people here are shocked and scared, there is also the sentiment expressed after other attacks against the Jewish community that the community is resilient and won’t be cowed.

Taub says: "It’s a shock. But I can’t say no one was expecting it. Obviously tensions have been very high. Security has been elevated by lots of organisations."

Image source, Reuters

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullally, has called the Hatzola ambulance attack "appalling".

She says her prayers are with the Jewish community, adding: "Such acts of violence, hatred and intimidation have no place in our society."

Mullally will be formally installed as the first female Archbishop of Canterbury in a service later this week.

Daniel Sandford
UK correspondent

There is a discussion under way within the Metropolitan Police about the extent to which counter-terror officers get involved in this investigation.

The borough commander is expected to give an update later this morning.

Image source, Reuters

Green Party leader Zack Polanski has said he is "horrified" by the attack. "Antisemitism is vile and has no place here," he writes on X. He expresses solidarity with the Jewish community in Golders Green and across the country.

Meanwhile, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage calls the incident "part of a rising tide of hate against Jewish communities in Britain". He says "more undocumented young men are crossing the Channel", adding "many will be from Iran". He says the UK has an "open door to potential enemies".

As a reminder, the Metropolitan Police say they are treating it is an antisemitic attack, but have made no arrests.

More comments now from Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who has just spoken to the media, following his social media post earlier.

He says he has been in contact with Jewish community leaders and "it's really important that we all stand together".

"This is a horrific antisemitic attack," he says.

"And of course my thoughts, I think all of our thoughts, will be with those in the vicinity, the residents who are understandably very concerned, the Jewish community across the country deeply concerned.

"I've already been in touch with community leaders this morning and will continue to do so during the day.

"But antisemitism has no place in our society and it's really important that we all stand together at a moment like this."

Nisha Patel
Reporting from Golders Green

Image source, Reuters

Yehoshua Posen says his daughter, who lives in the flats next door, witnessed people set fire to the ambulances and flee the scene.

“She called the fire brigade... she was terrified," he says.

"For this to happen on something which is there just to save lives is quite telling and shocking.

"It's time that people wake up and realise that you can allow hatred only so long, but eventually it catches up."

Labour MP for Finchley and Golders Green, Sarah Sackman, has described the incident as a "despicable, cowardly, antisemitic act" in a post on X.

The MP says the Hatzola ambulance service is staffed by "dedicated volunteers who save lives from all communities".

Sackman adds: "The perpetrators must feel the full force of the law."

Image source, PA

Nisha Patel
Reporting from Golders Green

Image source, Damon Hoff

Damon Hoff, president and chair of Machzike Hadath Synagogue, which is opposite the scene of the fire, says the Hatzola ambulance service is "for everybody".

"We've got quite a few different patrols, security in the area, and one of them saw something going on," he says. "That's who alerted the fire brigade, and that's who alerted the police.

“It was very quick. They got there very, very fast. Not enough to save the ambulances, but I don't think that was possible anyway.

"This is a real attack on the Jewish community. Hatzola is a backbone of the community, it’s for everyone that lives here.

"It was set up for the Jewish community but a third of the people that live in our area are not Jewish. I've personally called the Hatzola for non-Jewish people. Hatzola is for everybody - it's an ambulance service."