'WE MUST WORK TO ELIMINATE THIS ANCIENT SCOURGE'

MINISTERS were urged to act to stamp out antisemitism after arsonists destroyed four Jewish charity ambulances.

- MICHAEL KNOWLES

Senior Tory Chris Philp said the "ancient scourge" needed tougher action in the wake of the London outrage which some fear may have been orchestrated by Iran.

No arrests had been made by last night and intelligence chiefs could not rule out Tehran's involvement.

Mr Philp, the Shadow Home Secretary, said the "hideous" attack was proof "too little has been done" to stop antisemitism.

Three hooded thugs torched the vehicles used by the Hatzola group in Golders Green, North West London, early on Monday, triggering fears of a "terror cell". Barnet councillor Dean Cohen called the attack "particularly chilling".

The Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood branded the arson "so warped it defies words", adding that British Jews are frightened of sending their children to school or attending hospital appointments.

While Sir Keir Starmer said: "The idea that we live in a society where people should feel they need to hide their identity or their religion is, frankly, abhorrent.

"Antisemitism is an old hatred, but it requires constant vigilance to overcome it." But Mr Philp said: "This is a hideous antisemitic attack on a charity which provides vital ambulance services. The Jewish community has been targeted again and again - including in the Islamist attack on Heaton Park synagogue last autumn.

"Whoever is guilty of this sickening crime must go to jail for a long time.

"And if they are not British citizens, they must then be deported.