Suspect in UK ex-synagogue arson was in touch with person with Iraqi number, prosecutors say

A British man charged over an arson attack at a former synagogue in east London last week was in contact with someone using an Iraqi phone number shortly before the fire, prosecutors told a London court on Tuesday.

Moses Edwards, 45, from Wanstead, appeared in the dock at Westminster Magistrates’ Court and was remanded in custody until a further hearing next month. He gave no indication of any plea.

No further information about Edwards or his alleged contact was immediately available.

A 52-year-old woman who was also arrested in connection to the incident has been released on bail until August.

The fire at the former East London Central Synagogue was caused by wine bottles filled with an accelerant, which exploded, damaging the outside of the building, prosecutors said.

The building is in the process of being turned into a mosque and community center, after it was purchased by a Muslim organization earlier this year.

The incident followed a series of arson attacks on Jewish targets in previous weeks, with other targets including ambulances belonging to the Hatzola charity and two other synagogues.

Arsonists have also targeted a Persian-language news outlet hostile to the Iranian regime, and a memorial wall bearing photos of Iranians killed by the Islamic Republic and Israelis killed by Hamas.

Authorities have suggested Tehran may be behind some of the attacks, and a newly formed terror group – Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiya (HAYI) – has claimed responsibility for some of them. The group is believed to have links to Iran.

Police said last week that a total of 30 people had been arrested so far in connection with recent arson attacks, eight of whom have been charged with various offenses, and one of whom – a 17-year-old male – has pleaded guilty to arson, in connection with an attack on Kenton Synagogue.