Boy pleads guilty to Kenton synagogue attack

A 17-year-old boy from Brent has pleaded guilty to committing arson not endangering life following an arson attack at a synagogue in Kenton.

The boy appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Tuesday 21 April.

He has been bailed to appear at his next hearing at Willesden Magistrates' Court on 4 June, under strict conditions.

On Saturday 18 April, there was an arson attack at Kenton United Synagogue in Shaftsbury Avenue, Harrow. Met officers conducting security checks at local synagogues came across the crime scene at around midnight and alerted the London Fire Brigade.

An object, believed to be a petrol bomb, caused minor damage to the premises.

The boy was arrested by officers from Counter Terrorism Policing London at an address in north-west London at approximately 22:10hrs on Sunday, 19 April.

A 19-year-old was also arrested at an address in north-west London. He has been released on bail to a date in May.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans, Senior National Coordinator for Counter Terrorism Policing said: "This is a significant development, being the first conviction in relation to one of the recent spate of arson attacks on Jewish, Israeli or Iranian-linked venues.

"We have been clear that we will be relentless in our pursuit of anyone who was involved in any of these attacks. This outcome shows how seriously we are taking these matters and the excellent work of all the officers and staff both in Counter Terrorism Policing and the Met Police, who have been working around the clock to progress the investigations. Enquiries remain ongoing in all of our investigations and our message to anyone involved is that we will identify you and you will be brought to justice."