COUNTER-terror police uncovered the third arson attack on Jewish sites in London in a week today as ministers face renewed calls to end the “extremely dangerous” conflation of criticism of Israel with anti-semitism.

Officers on “deterrence and reassurance patrols” in the wake of the previous incidents spotted damage to a window of Kenton United Synagogue in Harrow, north-west London, at about midnight.

Speaking outside the synagogue, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans, the senior national co-ordinator for counterterrorism, said: “The nature of the incidents has been similar: arson attacks targeting Israeli- and Jewish-linked premises in London.

“Most have been claimed online by the group Ashab al-Yamin (Islamic Movement of the Companions of the Right).

“This same group has claimed several incidents over recent months at places of worship, business and financial institutions across Europe. These locations all appear to be linked to Jewish or Israeli interests.”

She said she has “spoken previously about the Iranian regime’s use of criminal proxies, and we’re considering whether this tactic is being used here in London.”

“This is recruiting violence as a service, and the people who conduct that violence often have little or no allegiance to the cause and are taking quick cash for their crime,” she said.

“As the conflict in the Middle East continues to evolve, counterterrorism policing and our partners remain alive to the threat of Iranian hostile activity in the UK.”

Video that appears to be published by the group, also known as Hayi, shows a person in dark clothing lighting an item and throwing it at the Kenton synagogue before running away. It was filmed by another person behind the metal fence surrounding the building.

The clip named leaders at the place of worship and accused it of being “one of the centres of zionist influence in the British capital.”

Police were already investigating an attempted arson attack at the former Jewish Futures building in Hendon on Friday. 

Two days earlier, police said that two people wearing dark clothing and balaclavas were seen placing bottles — one thought to contain petrol — near the Finchley Reform Synagogue in Barnet, north London, just after midnight. 

Four Jewish community ambulances were set on fire in Golders Green in the early hours of March 23.

Jewish Voice for Liberation co-chair Jenny Manson told the Morning Star: “This is very serious, and it’s no comfort at all to say that we have feared this increase in anti-semitic attacks.  

“There has been a conflation of criticism of the actions of Israel with anti-semitism, meaning hostility to Jews as Jews.

“This itself increases that hostility, and this is extremely worrying.”

She added: “Iranians see Israel as the enemy, and they are mistakenly and dangerously — and some people may say wickedly — associating Jews with Israel.

“Jews in a synagogue in Barnet are not responsible for Israel’s actions: in a way it’s a terrible example of what I was describing.

“My guess these days … it may only be around half of UK Jews who have a close association with Israel, and even among them not as many will support what Israel does.

“It’s extremely dangerous for the suggestion to be given out by Jewish leaders and by our government that all Jews support Israel.”

Stand up to Racism co-convener Sabby Dhalu said: “We stand in unwavering solidarity with Jewish communities in the face of these vile anti-semitic attacks. 

“History has shown the devastating consequences of hatred left unchallenged: those lessons must guide us now. 

“Anti-semitism has no place in our society. 

“An injury to one is an injury to all, and we must stand united against hate in all its forms.”

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said he was “appalled by recent attempted anti-semitic arson attacks in north London,” adding in a statement: “This is abhorrent, and it will not be tolerated. Attacks on our Jewish community are attacks on Britain.”