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Hatzola Ambulance Attack
23 March 2026
Lead MP
Dan Jarvis
Debate Type
Ministerial Statement
Tags
Migrants & BordersCommunity SecurityScience & Technology
Other Contributors: 30
At a Glance
Dan Jarvis raised concerns about hatzola ambulance attack in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Government Statement
At 1:45 am, the Metropolitan Police and London Fire Brigade responded to an arson attack on four ambulances belonging to Hatzola, a volunteer-led Jewish community ambulance service in Golders Green. No injuries were reported, but the cars were completely destroyed. The Government is committed to ensuring that Hatzola's vital work continues uninterrupted with replacement vehicles provided within 24 hours and permanent replacements funded. Counter Terrorism Policing is leading the investigation as an antisemitic hate crime. The Home Secretary has stepped up support for Jewish communities in London, confirming that the online safety act will compel tech platforms to protect users from illegal antisemitic content. Additionally, £7 million is committed to combat antisemitism in educational institutions and a review led by Lord Mann will address antisemitism in the NHS. The Government also maintains funding at £28 million for protective security grants.
Kerry McCarthy
Lab
Bristol East
Question
McCarthy asked about the measures taken to prevent such attacks on emergency services in Jewish communities, expressing concern over the safety of Hatzola volunteers and their equipment.
Minister reply
Jarvis acknowledged the importance of safeguarding all emergency service workers, including Hatzola volunteers. He emphasised that replacement vehicles would be provided immediately and permanently funded by the Government to ensure uninterrupted services.
Torfaen
Question
Thomas-Symonds questioned how effective current public order laws are in preventing hate crimes, especially those with an antisemitic motive.
Minister reply
Jarvis responded that Lord Macdonald's review is underway to consider improvements to public order laws aimed at tackling hate and intimidation. The Government remains committed to taking decisive action.
Steve McCabe
Lab
Birmingham Selly Oak
Question
McCabe inquired about the steps being taken by the police force specifically directed towards identifying and addressing potential threats to Jewish communities.
Minister reply
Jarvis confirmed that MI5 and local counter-terrorism units have increased surveillance efforts, with additional resources allocated for detection and disruption of plots targeting Jewish individuals or institutions.
Chris Philp
Con
Croydon South
Question
The MP expressed deep concern over the rise of antisemitism, referencing recent incidents including the murder at Heaton Park synagogue and the Hamas attack in October. He urged for stronger measures against Islamist extremism, such as removing foreign nationals expressing extremist views under section 3(5) of the Immigration Act 1971. Philp also suggested using intrusive surveillance powers to prevent antisemitic attacks.
Minister reply
Minister Dan Jarvis acknowledged the seriousness of the issue and committed to supporting the Jewish community through all available measures. He emphasised the Government’s support for counter-extremism initiatives and promised to consider additional powers if necessary. The Minister also mentioned a review by Lord Macdonald on protest activities that have been concerning.
Catherine West
Lab
Hornsey and Wood Green
Question
MP Catherine West expressed gratitude for the urgent actions taken post the attack, thanking local authorities and partners like the police for their immediate response. She highlighted the support messages being sent out to the Jewish community.
Minister reply
Minister Dan Jarvis acknowledged the efforts of all involved in responding to the incident, emphasising that the police are actively investigating the case to find the perpetrators.
Question
MP Luke Taylor expressed sympathy for those affected by the attack and emphasised the need for immediate safety measures for local residents. He urged for meaningful interventions before such crimes happen, focusing on antisemitism as a major issue in the UK. He also questioned the Government's decision to cut police numbers and called for more officers to be deployed.
Minister reply
Minister Dan Jarvis assured that extensive operations are underway to provide community reassurance and engagement. The Minister also highlighted the importance of the cohesion strategy, involving multiple departments to tackle antisemitism effectively. Additionally, he agreed with the sentiment regarding increasing police numbers.
Hendon
Question
Asked for more information on coordination between police and community organisations to reassure the Jewish community.
Minister reply
Extended engagement has been ongoing throughout the day and will continue, along with a visible policing presence. The Government recognises the importance of supporting volunteer organisations like Hatzola.
Edward Leigh
Con
Gainsborough
Question
Called for unity in condemning antisemitism and praised Jewish communities as being very successful immigrants.
Minister reply
Agreed with the sentiment of support for Jewish communities, reiterating the Government’s horror at the attack and commitment to hunting down those responsible.
Question
Asked if the Minister would support CST's work.
Minister reply
Joined the MP in supporting CST's work, praising its well-known contributions across the House.
Oliver Dowden
Con
Hertsmere
Question
Raised concerns about Jewish community feeling less safe and whether antisemitism is taken as seriously as other forms of racism.
Minister reply
Provided assurance that the Government takes these issues very seriously, committing to supporting police and intelligence agencies in their efforts against those seeking to cause division.
Meg Hillier
Lab
Hackney South and Shoreditch
Question
Highlighted Hatzola's essential role in health service support and asked for more information on the cohesion strategy.
Minister reply
Emphasised ongoing work led by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to ensure joined-up efforts across Departments.
Question
Suggested a 'sea change' in protecting Jewish communities beyond incremental changes.
Minister reply
Accepted the need for significant action, including increased protective security funding, alongside other initiatives addressing antisemitism.
Harlow
Question
Asked for reassurance on Government actions to keep Harlow's Jewish community safe.
Minister reply
Provided reassurances about the seriousness with which the Government takes these threats and detailed ongoing efforts across various organisations.
Mark Pritchard
Con
The Wrekin
Question
Asked for further steps in education to promote tolerance and addressed antisemitism on university campuses.
Minister reply
Acknowledged the importance of social cohesion, referenced £7 million funding for schools and colleges, and highlighted the work of organisations like the Holocaust Education Trust.
Janet Daby
Lab
Lewisham East
Question
Alongside many inside the House and outside it, I condemn the attack on the Jewish-run ambulance service in Golders Green. The Minister has spoken about community cohesion, but will he outline what immediate steps are being taken to reassure communities like mine?
Minister reply
I am grateful to my hon. Friend for his important points. Immediate steps are being taken by the Metropolitan police and work is under way as we speak to ensure that there is a presence, reassurance and engagement at community level.
Pete Wishart
SNP
Perth and North Perthshire
Question
What happened at Golders Green this morning was simply sickening and abhorrent. Will the Minister assure me that he is working with police forces right across the United Kingdom and doing everything possible to share information and seek co-operation when required?
Minister reply
The hon. Member makes an important point. He is right to raise the issue of co-ordinating activity with the police around the country; I will ensure that this activity is under way.
Question
This was an appalling antisemitic incident targeting those providing urgent medical care. Will the Minister outline what immediate steps are being taken to reassure the Jewish community across the whole United Kingdom?
Minister reply
A reassurance operation will be under way, conducted by the Metropolitan police and other police forces around the country.
Julian Lewis
Con
New Forest East
Question
The people who carry out such attacks are mainly seeking to terrorise the target community. Can we spare a moment to pay tribute to those members of the Muslim community who bravely go undercover to infiltrate plots of this sort?
Minister reply
I am beyond proud of the work of our intelligence services, who recruit from lots of different backgrounds in our country.
Paul Waugh
Lab
Rochdale
Question
May I express my solidarity and the solidarity of all Rochdalians with Britain’s Jewish community? Does the Minister agree that Ofcom needs to take much tougher action against antisemitism online?
Minister reply
Through the defending democracy taskforce, we work closely across Government and with law enforcement, and we look closely at the work of Ofcom. We will want to assure ourselves that all the powers are being used appropriately.
Question
Does the Minister agree with members of the Jewish community who think hate marches increase the risk of antisemitic attacks, and if he does, will he ban them?
Minister reply
The Home Secretary has just banned a hate march.
Connor Rand
Lab
Altrincham and Sale West
Question
He rightly spoke of the importance of strong and decisive action to tackle the torrent of antisemitism. When will we see concrete implementation milestones for the Government’s ‘Protecting What Matters’ action plan?
Minister reply
These issues are an urgent priority for the Government. My hon. Friend will know that the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is the lead Department.
Jack Rankin
SNP
Dunfermline and West Fife
Question
These despicable attacks have been claimed by Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiya. Do the Government share that assessment, and if so, when will they finally proscribe the IRGC?
Minister reply
I hope that he will understand that the Government commissioned Jonathan Hall to look at our terrorism legislation. Mr Hall has made a series of recommendations for new legislation to be able to proscribe state-backed entities.
Sammy Wilson
DUP
East Antrim
Question
We should not be surprised by the attacks that happened in Golders Green last night. Does that not set the atmosphere that Jewish people are a target because they are doing things that are evil and wrong?
Minister reply
There has been an unacceptable climate in recent times where certain sections of certain organisations have thought it is almost acceptable to allow this kind of antisemitic hate.
John Lamont
Con
Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk
Question
This was a horrific attack on the Jewish community. While Jewish communities experience disproportionately high levels of antisemitic incidents, offences targeting Jewish victims are statistically far less likely to result in prosecution. Does the Minister accept that the Jewish community does not trust that the law will work to protect them?
Minister reply
I hope that nobody here thinks that is remotely acceptable. That is why we all have a responsibility to redouble our efforts and ensure that more practically, we are putting in place the right laws and powers.
Dwyfor Meirionnydd
Question
My thoughts are with the Jewish community in north London. There is something particularly abhorrent about the destruction of ambulances, and actions motivated by extreme hatred must be condemned. No one anywhere should be made to feel at risk because of their race or religion. How are risks to the wider Jewish community, particularly those communities that are perhaps scattered or individual families or even individuals, being assessed at present—this is of course relevant to Wales—because so many people feel at risk?
Minister reply
I completely agree with the right hon. Member. It is beyond abhorrent that anyone would seek to target ambulances providing an extremely important and valuable public service in the way that we have seen this morning. She is also right to make the wider point about ensuring that no community is left behind. While the attack this morning has taken place in London, as I mentioned in my earlier remarks, we saw a terrible terrorist attack take place in Greater Manchester last October. Wherever we have Jewish communities in our country, we need to ensure that the police and the range of other organisations provide the support that is obviously now required.
Question
In a previous incarnation, I was fortunate enough to be a parliamentary candidate in Hackney. I was invited to meet Hatzola in Stamford Hill, and I was blown away by its incredible work. The fact that Hatzola is integrated into the London ambulance service and provides such a vital community resource is extremely commendable, and I pay tribute to it. I am conscious that emergency workers are incredibly vulnerable at the best of times. Given that Hatzola is liveried and clearly marked as effectively Jewish, what steps is the Minister taking to mitigate the additional vulnerabilities of the Hatzola crews going forward to ensure that they are not targeted in any type of copycat attacks?
Minister reply
I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for his remarks about the important work of Hatzola. He makes a good point about whether we can do more to provide support and reassurance to emergency workers who are quite literally engaged in lifesaving activity. He will understand that the incident took place only a number of hours ago, so we are dealing with the immediate response to it, but I commit to considering his point carefully.
Question
I welcome the additional support that the Government are providing to our Jewish community. As a Muslim, I know how reassured the Muslim community was by Government support following arson attacks at a mosque. One of the biggest problems is on social media, particularly X, where extreme antisemitic remarks have been made about this incident. We know that this voluntary ambulance service supports not just the Jewish community but all communities. The perpetrators of this abhorrent and callous act must be apprehended. Does the Minister agree that it is important to expedite their apprehension so as to send a message of deterrence that says an attack on any community member or community asset is an attack on every single person in this country?
Minister reply
I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for his remarks, which I know will be appreciated in the Jewish community. He is right to raise the considerable concern in every corner of the House about the online threat. I hope he sees that we take it incredibly seriously. A lot of work is under way, led by the defending democracy taskforce, and he will know that we have commissioned Philip Rycroft to conduct a review of this area. The Online Safety Act 2023 will provide some protections, but the Government have been crystal clear that if those protections are insufficient, we will have to do more.
Andrew Murrison
Con
South West Wiltshire
Question
Among the many reviews that he cited, the Minister mentioned Jonathan Hall’s review, which is getting a bit long in the tooth. Surely, given the events in north London and the middle east this month, its recommendations should now be expedited, as there appears to be cross-party support for the concept that the IRGC should be proscribed. Why can the Wagner Group—a state-linked entity—be proscribed, but the IRGC cannot, even without changing the Terrorism Act?
Minister reply
The right hon. Gentleman makes a good point. Jonathan Hall, who has done a lot of good work in this area, made recommendations, which the Government have accepted. We are looking closely at the best way to provide the legislation that he recommended. I take the right hon. Gentleman’s point about urgency. As a very experienced Member of this House, he will understand that I would be in a lot of trouble with the Leader of the House if I started speculating about future legislation. However, the Government have committed to bringing that forward, and we will do so as soon as we can.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Question
I thank the Minister very much for his statement, and for assuring Jewish people across the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland that we stand with them and that they are in our prayers. No one has any doubts about the Government’s commitment to standing alongside the Jewish diaspora, but this latest antisemitic attack shows the depth of depravity that those who hate Jews will sink to even today. The symbolism of an attack on ambulances for the sick and vulnerable cannot be lost on anyone. It is clear that Government steps to combat antisemitism do not go far enough, so what meaningful steps will the Minister take to support the Jewish community, whose only crime is to exist in Britain? They are British citizens, and they deserve full support from their Government.
Minister reply
As always, I am grateful to the hon. Member for the wisdom he brings to these matters, about which he speaks with great experience and passion, as a long-standing champion of all those who seek to practise their religion. I hope that my remarks today and previously have conveyed the seriousness and importance that we attach to these issues. Nobody, regardless of their religion, should be in fear that they will be targeted in this country. That is why it is a priority for the Government to ensure that we have the right resources and legislative framework in place, and that we are taking necessary and proportionate actions.
Shadow Comment
Chris Philp
Shadow Comment
Philp criticised the government's response to rising antisemitic incidents, noting that more must be done following recent attacks and a surge in hate crimes. He urged the Home Secretary to use her power under section 3(5) of the Immigration Act 1971 to remove foreign nationals expressing extremist views or sympathy for violence, terrorism or religious hatred. Philp also called for increased surveillance powers to prevent antisemitic attacks in planning stages and questioned how unvetted illegal migrants arriving by small boats could be linked to terror groups.
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