Source: The Scotsman/PA News
http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=3091338
On June 20, 2004 PA News reported, "A suspicious fire at a Jewish community centre has caused thousands of pounds worth of damage, police said today. Two Torah scrolls, hand-written parchments of the Bible and holy Jewish scriptures were also left 'torn and desecrated,' a spokesman for the centre said. Firefighters were called to reports of a blaze at the Aish centre in Hendon, north London, at around 11pm on Friday night. The building, which contains a synagogue, suffered up to £250,000 damage. Rabbi Schiff, executive director of Aish UK, said: 'Seeing Scrolls of the Law torn and strewn on the floor of my own synagogue in London was devastating. This mindless act of hatred and destruction rings yet another warning bell across the country to men and women of reason, tolerance and mutual respect to join together to ensure that the flames of extremism and intolerance not be allowed to engulf these shores.' A Metropolitan Police spokesman said forensic tests had been carried out at the scene of the blaze. The fire is being treated as suspicious."