A fire that broke out Wednesday at a kosher supermarket in a north London neighborhood recently targeted by arson attacks was not believed to be suspicious, according to the UK capital's firefighting service.
Fire Details and Response
The blaze at Kosher Kingdom in Golders Green caused no injuries, officials said, but likely rattled the large Jewish community in the area after a string of arson and other attacks this year. The London Fire Brigade dispatched 15 fire engines, around 100 firefighters, and drones to the morning inferno. Dark smoke billowed above the usually busy main shopping street and was visible from miles away.
“The circumstances of the fire are not believed to be suspicious at this time,” London Fire Brigade Assistant Commissioner Craig Carter said in an update from the scene. He added that specialist investigators worked at pace alongside the Metropolitan Police to reach the preliminary determination, but the probe into its cause is ongoing.
The Metropolitan Police said the fire was believed to have been caused by an electrical fault. “We would like to reassure residents that there is no indication of any targeted or deliberate act,” it said in a statement, adding that officers would remain in the area to provide reassurance.
Witness Accounts
Jay Shah, 70, who works at Kosher Kingdom, said he received a morning phone call about the fire affecting the store. “I think it's from the warehouse at the back,” he told AFP from the scene, noting it contained freezers, fridges, and machinery.
Retiree Nicky, 58, was among people watching firefighters from a nearby cordon. “It's shocking,” she said of the fire. “It's a big kosher supermarket serving the community. It's really terrible.”
Context of Recent Attacks
The fire follows arson attacks on synagogues and community sites over recent months in and around Golders Green, home to a large Jewish population. The area also saw a stabbing attack in April that targeted two Jewish men. A little-known Iran-linked group, Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiya, has claimed responsibility for almost all the incidents, according to the SITE Intelligence Group.
In response, London police created a new community protection team to safeguard the Jewish community, initially comprising 100 extra officers. It combines neighborhood policing with specialist protection and counter-terrorism capabilities, the force said last month.
