Four men have admitted destroying ambulances belonging to a Jewish charity during an arson attack earlier this year.

At an Old Bailey hearing last week Hamza Iqbal, aged 20, from Leyton, 19 year old Rehan Khan, also from Leyton, and Saif Ali and Jedex Atshatshi, both 18 from Walthamstow and Dagenham respectively, admitted destroying or damaging property being reckless whether life would be endangered.

During the attack in Golders Green earlier this year four ambulances being used by the charity Hatzola were set ablaze and destroyed.

All four men have been remanded in custody and are likely to be sentenced in spring 2027.

A fifth man, Subham Ahmen, aged 18, from Walthamstow, has pleaded not guilty in relation to assisting an offender and has been released on bail “with strict conditions” according to the police. A trial date has yet to be set and is likely to be scheduled for January next year.

Jewish security charity CST has welcomed the guilty pleas of Khan, Atshatshi, Ali and Iqbal for their roles in the arson attack.

In a statement it said: “This was an appalling antisemitic act against a volunteer ambulance service providing emergency medical assistance to people of all backgrounds across north London, simply because those ambulances belonged to a Jewish charity.

“It caused immense shock and distress across the Jewish community and we thank the Metropolitan Police and the Crown Prosecution Service for ensuring that the perpetrators have been held to account.

“CST will continue to work closely with the police, Hatzola and other community partners to protect the Jewish community from further antisemitic attacks.”

Following the attack in March the government and public rallied to support Hatzola, including then health secretary Wes Streeting pledging to support the charity with substitute vehicles and help fund replacements.

A public fundraising appeal was also launched, which raised £1.9m.

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