Iranian man is fighting for his life after 'hit-and-run' in Golders Green: Iraqi national arrested

By FRANCINE WOLFISZ, NEWS REPORTER Published: 00:51, 28 May 2026 | Updated: 00:54, 28 May 2026 An Iranian man has been left fighting for his life after a car rammed into him in Golders Green on Wednesday night. Video from the scene taken just after 8pm shows shocked bystanders moving swiftly to help the 41-year-old victim as he lay seriously injured in the road. The incident happened on Golders Green Road, north west London, close to the Iranian memorial wall where a suspected arson attack took place in April - and just metres away from the scene of a huge blaze at a Kosher supermarket earlier on Wednesday.  Metropolitan Police confirmed that a 39-year-old Iraqi national has since been arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm, causing serious injury by dangerous driving and failing to provide a drugs sample. He remains in police custody and enquiries are ongoing, with Met Police confirming it was not treating the incident as terrorism. The victim meanwhile has been taken to hospital with 'life threatening injuries'.  Volunteers from the Jewish community's security group Shomrim and community ambulance service Hatzola attended alongside Met Police and the London Ambulance Service. An Iranian man has been left fighting for his life after a car rammed into him in Golders Green on Wednesday night A 39-year-old Iraqi national has since been arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm, causing serious injury by dangerous driving and failing to provide a drugs sample In a statement from Metropolitan Police, a spokesperson said: 'Police were called at 8.24pm on Wednesday, 27 May following reports of a collision involving a car and a pedestrian on Golders Green Road, NW11. 'A 41-year-old man, an Iranian national, was taken to hospital with life threatening injuries. 'A 39-year-old man, an Iraqi national, has been arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm, causing serious injury by dangerous driving and failing to provide a drugs sample.  'He remains in police custody and enquiries are ongoing. 'An investigation is being led by officers from the Met's Serious Collision Investigation Unit. It is not being treated as terrorism.' Detective Chief Superintendent Luke Williams, who leads on policing in north west London, including Barnet, added: 'We know that this incident will cause significant concerns in the local community and residents can expect a continued police presence throughout the night. 'Detectives are working quickly to establish the circumstances and I would urge anyone with information to get in touch with us. 'We are aware of videos circulating on social media, appearing to show the collision and those involved.  'We would discourage the public from sharing both due to the graphic nature of the footage and to protect the integrity of the investigation.' Anyone with information can call police on 101 quoting CAD 8355/27MAY, visiting met.police.uk or calling Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. The incident came just hours after more than 100 firefighters were called to a blaze less than a minute's walk away at Kosher Kingdom, shortly before 7am on Wednesday morning.  No casualties were reported and the circumstances are not being treated as suspicious.  The largescale emergency response for both incidents on Wednesday come at a time of heightened tension for the Jewish and Iranian communities following a series of recent arson attacks, as well as a terror attack in Golders Green in which two Jewish men were stabbed. The incident came just hours after more than 100 firefighters were called to a blaze less than a minute's walk away at Kosher Kingdom, shortly before 7am on Wednesday morning The wall has been used as a place of reflection by protesters against the Iranian regime and is lined with photos of those killed during the Iranian government crackdown in January Counter Terrorism Policing are also continuing to investigate an arson attack on the memorial wall, close to Limes Avenue, in Golders Green, on 27 April.  A 46-year-old man and a 38-year-old woman were arrested earlier this month and have been released on bail to a date in June. The wall has been used as a place of reflection by protesters against the Iranian regime and is lined with hundreds of photos of those killed during the Iranian government crackdown in January. A section also commemorates those killed in the 2023 Hamas attack on the Nova music festival in Israel, and features a message of solidarity with the Jewish community following the recent spate of attacks. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.