Police are appealing for witnesses after a fire was set at a Jewish-owned shop in Lower High Street, Watford, on Sunday 19 April 2026. The incident, which took place between 4.15pm and 4.20pm, involved a fire door being set alight and antisemitic graffiti left at the scene.
Hertfordshire Constabulary is treating the event as a religiously aggravated hate crime. Officers have stated they believe this is an isolated incident and is not linked to recent arson attacks on Jewish sites in London.
Detective Superintendent Mark Clawson is urging anyone with information, including CCTV, mobile phone, dashcam, or doorbell footage, to contact the police. Investigators are particularly keen to trace a group of young males who were seen in the area at the time of the incident.
Information can be reported to the police by quoting reference number ISR 481.
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