Fire at disused synagogue treated as arson

A fire at a building formerly used as a synagogue in east London is being treated as an attempted arson attack, the Metropolitan Police have said.

The fire broke out in the early hours of Tuesday morning at the former East London Central Synagogue building in Whitechapel.

The Met said initial CCTV footage indicated the fire was started deliberately and is being investigated by the force's counter terrorism unit.

The suspected arson follows a series of attacks and attempted attacks on the Jewish community in recent weeks.