'Shocking but not unexpected': Jewish community reacts to ambulance attack

In Golders Green, London, four Jewish charity-run ambulances were set on fire, leading to explosions that shattered nearby windows and prompted evacuations. The incident is being investigated as an antisemitic hate crime by counter-terror police. Local Jewish community members expressed shock but noted a growing awareness of potential dangers. Hatzola, a Jewish-led non-profit, reported that three of its five ambulances were destroyed. The attack has left residents feeling unsettled and fearful, highlighting ongoing concerns about safety within the community.

""It's a shock," said Jack Taub, who is on the leadership team of the Machzike Hadath Synagogue, where the incident took place. But he adds: "I can't say no-one was expecting it.""

""It's very shocking, [but] it's not unexpected," said Shimon Ryde, local resident and councillor of Golders Green. "The Jewish community is very aware of the danger we live in.""

""I think I can speak for the community [that] it's been in the back of all our heads that something somewhere is going to pop off," said Ben, a local resident."

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