Four ambulances from Hatzola, a volunteer-led ambulance service, were destroyed in the early hours of 23 March.

Hamza Iqbal, 20, and Rehan Khan, 19, both British nationals from Leyton, have been charged with arson being reckless as to whether life would be endangered, the Metropolitan Police said in a statement.

A 17-year-old boy, a dual British and Pakistani national from Walthamstow, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has also been charged with the same offence.

The group, who were all arrested on Wednesday at different locations in East London, are due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Saturday.

While an investigation was launched by Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP), the incident has not been declared as terrorism.

When the four ambulances were set on fire, the resulting blaze caused gas canisters stored in the vehicles to explode, and nearby homes were evacuated as a precaution.

Local residents describe being woken by the noise, with the force of the explosions blowing out windows, including those of the nearby synagogue.

The government loaned the charity four ambulances to replace those that were destroyed, and has said it would cover the cost of new vehicles.

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An appeal has raised more than £3.2m to find new, safer premises for the Hatzola ambulance service in Golders Green.

Separately, two men aged 45 and 47, arrested last Wednesday, have both been released on bail until later in April.

Detective Chief Superintendent Luke Williams, who leads policing in North West London said a "bespoke policing plan" has been deployed at vulnerable areas across London, including Golders Green.

"This has involved a significant number of additional officers on the ground. It is also being supported by highly visible armed police patrols to serve as a deterrent to anyone seeking to cause our communities harm."

Three teenagers - two boys, aged 14 and 16, and an 18-year-old man - have been arrested on suspicion of murder in Woolwich, southeast London, and remain in custody, the Metropolitan Police said.

Police had initially referred to the victim as a man because they could not identify him but have now confirmed he was 14-year-old Eghosa.

Detective Chief Inspector Lucie Card, who is leading the investigation, said: "Our thoughts remain with Eghosa's family and loved ones, they are being supported by specially trained officers and have asked for privacy at this difficult time.

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"I know the concern this has caused within Woolwich and the wider community, particularly considering Eghosa's young age. We have an increased police presence around the area.

"While we have made three arrests, our investigation continues and I would urge anyone with any information to come forward and speak to officers."

Officers were called to the scene in Lord Warwick Street, which is close to the Woolwich Ferry and Woolwich Dockyard train station, at around 3.40pm on Thursday.

Eghosa was pronounced dead at the scene and police said his family are being supported by specialist officers.

Pub-goers 'panicking' after shooting

Sofia Pereira, 33, who works at the nearby Greyhound pub said customers who were on the patio ran inside "panicking" after the shooting, adding the atmosphere in the pub was "very overwhelming".

"It was a lovely day yesterday, a few people were outside," she said.

"And obviously everyone got scared because they heard shooting and they could see one of the guys had a machete, or something like that.

"So everyone just ran inside, said 'lock, lock all the doors and everything', because obviously we didn't know what was going on."

Ms Pereira said she was inside, adding: "But I just heard like a big 'bang', like a big, strong 'boom', which was obviously one of the kids, I think, jumping on the wall, through the bin, and then obviously the bin fell and broke, then he just run off."

The area surrounding the street where the shooting took place was cordoned off on Friday, with a dozen police officers at the scene.

A bunch of flowers was laid at the end of Lord Warwick Street, while forensic officers appeared to be searching a patch of grass along the street.

London mayor Sir Sadiq Khan said: "My thoughts are with the family, friends and wider community in Woolwich following the appalling fatal shooting of 14-year-old boy.

"There is absolutely no place for this heart-breaking violence.

"I remain in close contact with the Met who have been working around the clock - arrests have already been made and an investigation is under way.

"Residents will see an increase in police in the local area."

It is the second fatal shooting in the capital in less than a week.

Nahom Medhanie, 26, was shot dead while sitting in a car near Euston station in central London at around 11pm on Saturday.

The prime minister released his statement as is traditional from Downing Street.

He said that in 'times when some seek to divide, the government is committed to working across faiths and differences, to build a country that is more resilient, inclusive and connected'.

This follows a row earlier last month over whether Muslims praying in Trafalgar Square as part of Eid constituted a "domination" of public space, as argued by the shadow justice secretary Nick Timothy and agreed by Reform.

A Passion of Jesus performance, showing the story of the crucifixion, was put on in the square on Good Friday.

Sir Keir also addressed the impact on cost of living from the war in the Middle East.

In his Easter message, Sir Keir said: "Easter is a celebration of hope, new life and renewal.

"Across the country, churches and Christian communities quietly and tirelessly support families, children and neighbours - offering comfort, bringing people together, and standing alongside those who need it most.

"It is precisely that spirit of service which exemplifies national renewal, and reflects the very heart of Christ's example.

"This Easter comes at a time of real anxiety for many people. Conflicts abroad, pressures at home, and uncertainty about the future weigh heavily on families and households.

"In moments like these, faith offers reassurance and grounding - a reminder that we are not alone, and that hope can still take root even in difficult soil."

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The prime minister added: "Our country is at its best when we choose community over division, kindness over indifference, and service over self‑interest.

"I thank everyone who gives their time through churches and Christian charities, and wish Christians across the UK and around the world a very happy Easter filled with peace, hope and the promise of new life."

Leader of the opposition Kemi Badenoch also shared a message, describing Easter as "a reminder that even in the darkest times, renewal is possible and that light can overcome darkness".

"At the heart of the Christian faith is a story of redemption, of second chances, of perseverance and of the belief that better days lie ahead," she said.

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"In a world that can often feel uncertain, perhaps even bleak, with conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, and challenges at home, that message matters more than ever.

"Across the country, we also see the cultural value of Christianity in the quiet, everyday impact of that faith in acts of kindness, service and sacrifice in our communities. I wish Christians and all people across the United Kingdom a very happy Easter."

Retail director Thinus Keeve hit out at the government and London mayor Sadiq Khan in a letter posted to the supermarket's website.

"Without a government seriously cracking down on crime and a mayor that prioritises effective policing, we are powerless," he said.

Following unrest on Saturday, about 100 officers responded to antisocial behaviour in Clapham, south London, on Tuesday, four of whom were assaulted, along with one member of the public.

Scores of teenagers and young adults were participating in so-called "link-ups" – using social media apps including TikTok and Snapchat before surging into shops.

M&S was reportedly one of the stores targeted.

Mr Keeve went on: "It is becoming more brazen, more organised and more aggressive."

"We need a stronger, faster and more consistent police response, using tools that already exist to target repeat offenders and crime hotspots," he said, adding: "It's a clear ask: support our police. Help them show up in our communities when and where we need them.

"Give them the resources they need to tackle crime effectively, and ensure they work with retailers to consistently use the tools we've developed to share data and actively target offenders."

'None of us believe crime is falling'

He also questioned claims that crime rates are falling in the capital.

He said: "I keep hearing crime is falling, especially in London - something none of us believe, and very few people working in retail would see."

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M&S chief executive Stuart Machin has written to the Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood following the scenes over the weekend, which Sir Sadiq condemned as "utterly unacceptable".

The London mayor said "the culprits will face the full force of the law" and police were working with social media companies to try to clamp down on "viral online content which promotes violence and theft".

'Part of the broader picture'

Speaking to Sky News, M&S head of external affairs Adam Hawksbee said the Metropolitan Police's response to the chaos was "excellent".

But he said the incident in Clapham is "just part of the broader picture", with 1,600 retail workers a day experiencing violence and abuse.

"Some incidents will be serious and organised crime, and others will be individuals that are under the influence of alcohol and drugs. And this can be really scary, both for our colleagues working in the store and for the security guards," he said.

"We've had ammonia thrown in the face of one of our security guards. In the last week, we've had a store manager headbutted and these incidents are not isolated to us at M&S. They're true across the retail sector and that's why we feel like we needed to speak out."

Meanwhile, police in Rochdale issued a 48-hour dispersal order following anti-social behaviour.

The eight dead and injured child are all members of the same family and were involved in a house collapse, Hafizullah Basharat, a spokesman for the Kabul governor, said.

The earthquake struck Afghanistan's Hindu Kush region at a depth of 110 miles (177km), according to the German Research Centre for Geosciences.

Provincial health authorities in the country have been put on alert.

Strong tremors were also felt in Pakistan's ‌capital, Islamabad.

The region is highly seismically active, with earthquakes causing thousands of deaths in recent years.

Last August, a 6.0 earthquake in eastern Afghanistan killed more than 1,400 people, and injured at least 3,250 others - destroying villages and trapping people under rubble.

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Most of the casualties in that disaster were in the country's Kunar province, where people typically live in wood and mud-brick houses along steep valleys.

In November, a 6.3 earthquake struck Samangan province in northern Afghanistan, killing at least 27 people and injuring more than 950.

While in 2023, thousands were killed when a 6.3 quake, followed by strong aftershocks, rocked western Afghanistan.