Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia: Inside the Group Behind Europe’s Recent Antisemitic Attacks

A latest militant group, Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia (HAYI), has emerged as a significant security concern across Europe following a series of coordinated attacks targeting Jewish institutions and financial interests. From the torching of emergency vehicles in London to explosions in the Netherlands and Belgium, the group’s sudden appearance coincides with the geopolitical volatility of the 2026 Iran war.

The Golders Green Ambulance Attack

On March 23, 2026, an arson attack targeted the Golders Green neighborhood of North London, an area known for its large Jewish community. The attack destroyed four ambulances belonging to Hatzola, a volunteer Jewish medical organization. The incident was captured on security cameras, which showed three men torching the vehicles.

Following the attack, the Metropolitan Police arrested four individuals in East London. Three of these suspects have been remanded in custody after appearing at the Westminster Magistrates Court. The identified defendants include:

• Hamza Iqbal, 20, a British national.
• Rehan Khan, 19, a British national.
• An unnamed 17-year-old, a UK-Pakistani dual national.

The three suspects face charges of arson and “being reckless as to whether life would be endangered.” They are scheduled to appear at London’s Central Criminal Court, the Old Bailey, on April 24, according to Al Jazeera.

Who is Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia?

Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia—which translates to the “Islamic Movement of the People of the Right Hand” or “The Islamic Movement of the Companions of the Righteous”—emerged in March 2026. According to Wikipedia, the group appeared immediately following the outbreak of the 2026 Iran war.

The group characterizes its targets as “Zionist interests,” focusing on Jewish, Israeli, and Western financial institutions. In a statement to CBS News, a representative for the group declared their intent to continue targeting U.S. And Israeli interests worldwide to “avenge every child in Gaza, Iran, Lebanon, and the resistance nations.”

A Pattern of Violence Across Europe

HAYI utilizes Telegram channels associated with the “Axis of Resistance” to distribute “proof-of-crime” videos. Their activity since early March includes:

• Belgium: An explosion at a synagogue in Liège on March 9 and a more recent attack involving a burned car in a Jewish neighborhood in Antwerp.
• Netherlands: An arson attack on a synagogue in Rotterdam on March 13, leading to the arrest of four suspects aged 17–19. This was followed on March 14 by an explosion at a Jewish school in Amsterdam’s Buitenveldert district.
• Financial Targets: On March 16, an improvised explosive device (IED) was detonated at the Atrium office complex in Amsterdam’s Zuidas business district, targeting a branch of the Bank of New York Mellon.

Proxy or “Astroturfed” Brand?

The true nature of HAYI remains a point of contention among intelligence analysts and government officials. Israeli officials, including the Ministry for Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism, characterize the group as a recently founded Iranian proxy, as reported by The Independent.

Yet, some European authorities and independent analysts question this link. Lucas Webber, a senior threat intelligence analyst at Tech Against Terrorism, suggested to CBS News that the group resembles an “astroturfed terror brand” rather than a grassroots cell. He noted that the group appears to be plugged into an existing Iran-aligned network, experimenting with “low-cost, high-visibility operations” in Europe.

Key Takeaways: The Rise of HAYI

As the legal proceedings against the suspects in London move toward the Old Bailey, security services across Europe remain on high alert for further operations from a group that has managed to create a wide footprint of instability in a matter of weeks.