Three arrested following attempted arson attack in Wembley

Three men have been arrested following an attempted arson attack on the offices of a Persian language media organisation in north-west London.

At around 20:30hrs on Wednesday, 15 April, officers on proactive patrols in Wembley were made aware that an ignited container had been thrown towards the premises.

The container landed in a car park, where the fire immediately put itself out. No damage was reported and there were no injuries.

Urgent enquiries were carried out and it was established that the suspects had left the area in a black SUV.

An Armed Response Vehicle (ARV), which was in the area, quickly located a vehicle matching the description and began a pursuit when the driver failed to stop for police.

It later crashed on Ballards Lane, close to the junction with Woodberry Gardens, N12.

A boy aged 16 and two men aged 19 and 21 were arrested on suspicion of arson endangering life and taken into police custody where they remain.

A number of buildings nearby were evacuated as a precaution, although it was quickly established there was no wider risk.

The attack is not being treated as a terrorist incident but is being investigated by detectives from Counter Terrorism Policing London, supported by officers from the North West Command Area.

At this stage, it is not being linked to the attempted arson in Finchley this week or last month’s arson in Golders Green.