The United Kingdom announced Monday, July 13, 2026, that a series of arson and vandalism attacks targeting Jewish sites across Britain were orchestrated by an Iran-backed proxy group, marking a significant escalation in London’s response to foreign state threats. The government is proscribing the Islamic Movement of the Companions of the Right (IMCR), also known as Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia (HAYI), and formally designating Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a threat to national security.

The measures, enabled by new powers under the National Security (State Threats) Act 2026, make it a criminal offense to support, belong to, or assist either organization. Offenses including sabotage carried out on their behalf could carry penalties of up to life imprisonment.

A Pattern of Attacks on Jewish Sites

IMCR has publicly claimed responsibility for at least seven attacks on locations linked to Jewish and Israeli communities in the UK, including arson attacks on synagogues and Jewish community infrastructure. Among the most notable incidents was a fire that destroyed four Hatzolah Jewish ambulances in Golders Green, north-west London, on March 23, 2026. The group has also been linked to vandalism and other incidents targeting Jewish sites and a Persian-language media organization critical of the Iranian regime.

No injuries were reported in the blazes, but the attacks heightened fears within the Jewish community amid a broader surge in antisemitic incidents across Europe and the UK.

Members of the IRGC’s Quds Force “almost certainly directed” IMCR’s operations across Europe. — Security Minister Angela Eagle

UK officials, including Security Minister Angela Eagle, described the operation as part of Iran’s hybrid warfare and state-sponsored intimidation tactics against communities and dissidents on British soil.

The Announcement

Prime Minister Keir Starmer made the announcement at a Downing Street reception with the Jewish community, emphasizing the role of foreign states in fueling violence and intimidation at home. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and other officials highlighted the use of new state-threat powers to designate organizations acting as proxies for hostile foreign powers. The same round of designations also targeted the Russia-linked GRU Volunteer Corps, though officials placed heavy emphasis on the Iranian threat.

What the Bans Mean

• Membership, support, attendance at meetings, or public display of logos or flags for IMCR or the IRGC becomes a criminal offense
• Police and intelligence agencies gain enhanced tools to disrupt recruitment, funding, and operations on British soil
• New state-threat powers close gaps in existing terrorism legislation for state-linked proxy activity
• Offenses including sabotage carried out on behalf of either group can carry penalties of up to life imprisonment

Reactions

The decision has been welcomed by many as a long-overdue step to counter Iranian influence and protect Jewish and Israeli-linked communities in Britain. It brings the UK closer in line with allies that have already designated the IRGC as a terrorist organization. Jewish community leaders and pro-Israel voices expressed relief and called for stronger enforcement, describing the attacks as part of a worrying pattern of antisemitism. Some government critics on the left raised concerns over the broader implications for free speech and foreign policy.

The designations arrive amid heightened UK-Iran tensions, including growing concern over IRGC activities, proxy militias, and regional instability more broadly.

Timeline

The action sends a clear message that the UK will not tolerate foreign regimes using proxies to export terror and antisemitism onto British streets, strengthening community safety while reinforcing national security against state-sponsored threats. The designations are subject to parliamentary approval; ongoing developments will be reflected in official Home Office statements.