Three people, including a 16-year-old boy, have been charged after an attempted arson attack at a Persian-language media organisation in northwest London.According to the Metropolitan Police Service, an ignited container was allegedly thrown at the offices of Volant Media, parent company of Iran International, in Wembley on Wednesday night.The device landed in a nearby car park, where the fire extinguished itself. No injuries or property damage were reported, though nearby buildings were briefly evacuated as a precaution.
Three arrested after police chase
The accused — 21-year-old Oisin McGuinness, 19-year-old Nathan Dunn, and a teenage boy, were arrested after the black SUV they were travelling in crashed during a police pursuit in Finchley.McGuinness also faces an additional charge of dangerous driving. All three are British nationals and are due to appear in court.While the case is being handled by counterterrorism officers, authorities have not classified it as a terrorist incident.Police said they are keeping an “open mind” about the motive, even as they examine possible links to growing ethnic and religious tensions in the UK.The attempted attack comes amid a series of similar incidents in north London, including:
- An attempted arson at a synagogue in Finchley
- A previous attack that destroyed ambulances belonging to a Jewish charity
Authorities have clarified that the cases are being treated as separate, though their nature and locations have prompted a coordinated investigation.The Met said it is aware that an Iran-linked Islamist group, Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia, has claimed responsibility for recent attacks.However, officials have not confirmed any direct connection between the group and the Wembley incident.
