Man charged with arson over fire at Golders Green memorial wall

A man has been charged over a suspected arson attack at a memorial wall.

Ali Fallahi, 45, from Ilford, east London, is accused of starting a fire at the site in Limes Avenue in Golders Green, north London, on 27 April.

The blaze that started just after midnight sparked an investigation by counter-terrorism police, although it was not being treated as a terror incident.

Fallahi, a dual British and Iranian national, has been charged with arson and is due to appear in court for the first time at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Thursday.

It is alleged that Fallahi "damaged by fire a memorial cabinet of a value unknown belonging to Miga Rally intending to destroy or damage such property or being reckless as to whether such property would be destroyed or damaged".

The memorial wall was set up by Miga Rally, a community group, as a tribute to thousands of Iranians killed in a crackdown on anti-government demonstrations in January.

A section of the wall is also dedicated to those killed in the Hamas 7 October attack on the Nova music festival in Israel in 2023.

The blaze is said to have been started at around 12.15am in a cabinet that sits next to the wall and was spotted before being quickly extinguished without spreading to the wall itself.

Following the incident Miga Rally released a statement saying: "The memorial wall is a peaceful place of remembrance, documenting lives lost and ensuring victims are not forgotten.

"Any attempt to damage or desecrate such a site is deeply troubling and an attack on the values of remembrance, dignity and community cohesion.

"We hope those responsible will be identified and held accountable."

Commander Helen Flanagan, head of counter-terrorism policing London, said: "This charge marks another step forward in one of the investigations into the series of arson attacks targeting the Jewish community and Iranian diaspora in London.

"We are determined to bring everyone involved in these incidents to justice.

"As always, I ask the public to remain vigilant and to contact police if you are concerned and feel something isn't right."

(c) Sky News 2026: Man charged with arson over fire at Golders Green memorial wall