A new arrest has been made in connection with an alleged arson attack on four Jewish community ambulances in northwest London, the Crown Prosecution Service has confirmed.
It came as Hamza Iqbal, 20, and Rehan Khan, 19, were remanded in custody after appearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, charged with the attack.
The latest arrest was announced by prosecutor Emma Harraway during a hearing at the London court on Saturday.
It was made at the Westminster Magistrates' on Saturday morning, Prosecutor Emma Harraway confirmed.
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She told the court: “There is significant evidence that this was a premeditated and targeted attack against the Jewish community.”
Hamza Iqbal and Rehan Khan, both British nationals from Leyton, and a 17-year-old boy, a dual British and Pakistani national from Walthamstow, were charged by the CPS on Friday following a Counter Terrorism Policing investigation.
The 17-year-old appeared at the same court and was remanded into youth detention accommodation.
Two other men, aged 45 and 47, who were arrested last week and are also British, were released on bail until late April.
The Met Police have made a new arrest in connection with the Golders Green attack
|GETTY
Four ambulances from Hatzola, a volunteer-led ambulance service operating in the Golders Green area of northwest London, were set on fire in the early hours of March 23, causing gas canisters stored in the vehicles to explode.
The case is not being treated as terrorism, but CTP said due to "the circumstances of the incident", the investigation is being led by its detectives.
Previously, Commander Helen Flanagan, Head of Counter Terrorism Policing London, which is leading the investigation, said: "Since this appalling attack last week, we have been working continuously to investigate and identify those responsible.
"The investigation has now reached a stage where three people have been charged, and they will now appear in court.
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The latest arrest was made at Westminster Magistrates' Court
|PA
"I want to reiterate that the support we had from the local community since this attack took place has been incredible, and we will continue to work closely with local policing colleagues to do everything we can to keep the public safe."
Detective Chief Superintendent Luke Williams, who leads policing in North West London said: "We know that local community concerns continue to remain high, particularly for our Jewish communities in the Passover festival period.
"Since the arson attack, we have put in place an enhanced, bespoke policing plan, which has been focused around vulnerable areas not only in Golders Green, but right across London.
"This has involved a significant number of additional officers on the ground, with the aim of protecting communities, disrupting offenders, and detecting crime.
Four ambulances from Hatzola, a volunteer-led ambulance service, were set on fire in the early hours of March 23
| GETTY"This activity is ongoing and will continue over the coming days and includes specialist officers and capability being deployed alongside local officers.
"It is also being supported by highly visible armed police patrols to serve as a deterrent to anyone seeking to cause our communities harm."