Fire in Hackney investigated as anti-Semitic attack after blaze ripped through three-storey house, leaving four injured as man arrested

An anti-Semitism investigation has been launched after a fire ripped through a house, injuring four people.

Emergency services were rushed to Hackney, London Yesterday around noon, a three-storey house was reported to have caught fire.

Police are investigating a house fire in London as they fear it may be a hate crimeCredit: Twitter/UB1UB2

Horror footage shows the house in Hackney going up in flames around noon yesterdayCredit: London Fire Brigade

The fire was believed to have been deliberately setCredit: Twitter/UB1UB2

Footage showed huge flames leaping from the windows of the house as black smoke billowed into the air.

Four people were injured in the fire, which was probably deliberately started.

A fifth man, in his 60s, was also injured in the fire but was later arrested.

Police today revealed that when the man was arrested at the scene in Newick Road, he was said to have been threatening and made “allegedly anti-Semitic” comments.

He is still in hospital today.

Met Detective Chief Inspector James Conway said today: “Upon arrest the man made a number of threatening comments, some of which were allegedly anti-Semitic.

“We take incidents of anti-Semitism extremely seriously and for this reason we are investigating the incident as a potential case of hatred crime.

“This will undoubtedly be extremely worrying news for our Jewish communities in Hackney and beyond, and I and my officers will be working with partners, including the Community Safety Trust and the Shomrim, to answer their questions and listen to their views.

“While investigations will continue to investigate the motivation for this offence, we believe at this stage this focused on a local housing issue.

“We have no evidence at this very early stage that the motivation was related to specific local or global events.”

The London Fire Bridge sent about 60 firefighters to tackle the blaze, which destroyed the ground and first floors of the house.

A spokesperson for the Community Security Trust said: “This appears to be a very serious incident and we appreciate the quick action of the police.

“We have been in contact with the police since yesterday and we will work with them to reassure the local Jewish community in the coming days.”

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