Two cars set on fire at British Consulate in Jerusalem

Arson is suspected as police continue to search for suspects in and around Jerusalem's French Hill neighborhood.

By DANIEL K. EISENBUD
Jerusalem firefighters extinguish a car set on fire in front of the capital’s British Consulate (photo credit: JERUSALEM FIRE DEPARTMENT)
Jerusalem firefighters extinguish a car set on fire in front of the capital’s British Consulate
(photo credit: JERUSALEM FIRE DEPARTMENT)
Two vehicles were set on fire in a parking lot adjacent to the British Consulate in Jerusalem’s French Hill neighborhood Wednesday morning.
According to Jerusalem District Fire Department spokesman Kobe Erev, the fire started at 11:30 a.m.
on Decker Street, engulfing both cars, which were destroyed in the blaze.
“A security guard in the consulate called to tell us the cars were burning and we quickly arrived and put them out,” Erev said. “Our investigation showed that it was arson.”
Asked if he believed it was nationalistically motivated, Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said an investigation has been opened to look into the fire.
Rosenfeld added that an intensive search has been launched in French Hill and surrounding neighborhoods to find the suspects.
“We hope to make an arrest shortly,” he said.
The consulate in Jerusalem, which has an office in the Gaza Strip, provides consular services to British nationals in Jerusalem, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.