Boy charged after Kenton Synagogue arson attack

A boy has been charged in connection with a Counter Terrorism Policing London investigation into an arson attack on a synagogue in Kenton.

Following authorisation from the Crown Prosecution Service on Monday, 20 April, a 17-year-old boy, a British national from Brent, has been charged with arson not endangering life contrary to sections 1(1), 1(3) and 4 of the Criminal Damage Act 1971.

He is remanded in custody to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, 21 April.

The charge comes after a 19-year-old man and a 17-year-old boy were arrested at separate addresses in the north-west London area at approximately 22:10hrs on Sunday, 19 April.

Both were arrested on suspicion of arson reckless as to whether life was endangered and were taken to a London police station.

The man has been bailed pending further enquiries.

The charge relates to an arson attack around 23:35hrs on Saturday, 18 April, at Kenton United Synagogue in Shaftsbury Avenue, Harrow. Around midnight, Met officers conducting security checks at local synagogues came across the crime scene. They alerted the London Fire Brigade.

Minor damage was caused to the premises. Nobody was injured.