A disturbing incident unfolded in London during Rosh Hashanah when a group of youths was caught on camera firing two fireworks at Lauderdale Road Synagogue in the Maida Vale neighborhood of northwest London. The attack occurred on Sunday afternoon, the second day of the holiday. While no one was injured and no damage was caused to the building, police have launched an investigation and increased patrols in the area.
According to a Daily Mail report, security cameras captured five youths, described as wearing hoodies, approaching the synagogue compound. One apparently stood lookout while two others hurled objects toward the building that exploded like rocket-style fireworks, creating smoke and loud noise. The group then fled the scene.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed receiving a report at 3:56 p.m. regarding a group launching fireworks outside the premises. By the time officers arrived, the suspects had already left. At this stage, no injuries have been reported, no arrests have been made, and police continue to review security footage and gather information.
Just minutes before the incident, a Jewish family with young children had walked past the location after a holiday meal. According to the community's statement, the synagogue itself was empty when the fireworks were launched, which is why no one was hurt. No physical damage to the building was reported either.
The community managing the synagogue updated its members that "two rocket-style fireworks were fired at the synagogue by a group of youths." In its message, the community sought to reassure the public and emphasized there was no reason to alter plans for attending prayers and activities at the building, but urged members to remain vigilant and follow security team instructions. The incident was immediately reported to police and to the Community Security Trust, the central security and monitoring organization for Jewish communities in Britain.
Rabbi Amir Elitov, one of the senior rabbis at the synagogue, said that Jewish families must be able to gather safely, openly and without fear to mark Rosh Hashanah. According to him, the synagogue is a place of prayer, community and joy, and no one should feel threatened on their way to practice their faith. The rabbi added that the community would not allow incidents of this type to deter it from continuing to gather, the Daily Mail reported.
The synagogue at the center of the incident is a historic and protected building, constructed in 1896 and serving as a significant center for the Sephardic-Portuguese community in London. The fact that fireworks were fired at an active Jewish site, in the midst of Rosh Hashanah, raised particular concern even though at this stage no official motive for the incident has been released and police have not determined whether it constitutes a hate crime.
A CST spokesperson said the organization is aware of the case, arrived at the scene and is in contact with the synagogue and police in an effort to clarify the full circumstances. He emphasized that according to initial information the incident did not occur during prayer time, and that there is no indication of casualties; nevertheless, he described it as a "serious incident" that could raise concern among the Jewish public.
London police announced that additional patrols have been deployed in the area to ensure that members of the Jewish community feel protected during the holiday period. They called on anyone holding information, documentation or testimony to contact the relevant hotlines.
The incident comes at a sensitive time for British Jews. According to CST data cited in the Daily Mail, in the first half of 2026, 1,926 antisemitic incidents were recorded in Britain—a 21% increase compared to the corresponding period last year, and the second-highest figure ever recorded for the January-to-June period. Of all the incidents, 96 were directed against synagogues, worshippers or employees at houses of worship.
Earlier this year, London experienced a series of arson attacks against institutions, organizations and schools connected to Jewish and Iranian communities. According to a London Assembly statement, those cases led to a broad terror investigation, dozens of arrests and increased security in northwest London. It is important to note: there is no determination by police in recent reports that the current fireworks incident is connected to that series of attacks or stems from an antisemitic motive.
