A British man ‌charged over an arson attack ​at a former ⁠synagogue in east London last week was in contact ‌with someone using an Iraqi phone number ‌shortly before the fire, ‌prosecutors ⁠told a London ⁠court on Tuesday (May 12, 2026).

Mr. Moses Edwards, 45, appeared in the dock ​at Westminster Magistrates’ ‌Court and was remanded in custody until a further hearing next month. ‌He gave no indication ​of any plea.

The fire at the ⁠former East London Central Synagogue was caused by wine ‌bottles filled with an accelerant, which exploded damaging the outside of the building, prosecutors said.

The incident followed ‌a series of arson attacks ​on Jewish targets in previous weeks, with police ⁠saying they were investigating possible ⁠Iran links to some of the ‌fires.