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The Liberal Democrat mayor of Bath has resigned after sharing social media posts that suggested a recent arson attack on Jewish community ambulances was staged by Israel.

Bharat Pankhania had shared posts on his personal X account about the attack on the four ambulances run by Hatzola, a volunteer-led ambulance service, in north-west London.

Officers were called to Highfield Road in Golders Green on 23 March after receiving reports of ambulances on fire near the Machzike Hadath synagogue.

Pankhania shared X posts describing the arson attacks as an Israeli false flag operation, and two further posts claiming the incident was insurance fraud. False flag operations are political or military acts designed to look as if they were committed by an enemy, allowing the perpetrator to blame an adversary.

Pankhania issued an apology last week but on Tuesday it was reported he has resigned as mayor, a ceremonial role, as well as his elected position as a Liberal Democrat councillor on Bath and North East Somerset (Banes) council, from which he had already been suspended.

In a statement, the Banes Liberal Democrat council group said Pankhania’s resignation had been accepted.

It said: “Cllr Bharat Pankhania has offered his resignations from the position of mayor of Bath and from the Liberal Democrat group on Bath and North East Somerset council, from which he had already been suspended.

“Both these resignations have been accepted. Cllr Pankhania again apologised for his interactions on X, and reiterated that he has spent his life working with all communities, whilst acknowledging the hurt he had caused. In resigning, Cllr Pankhania is taking clear personal responsibility for his actions.

“As a group and as a party, we reject discrimination wherever it occurs and reiterate our stance against antisemitism.”

In his apology, Pankhania said: “I have been made aware that I have reposted or replied to some posts which have never aligned to my values and beliefs, and which are abhorrent. I am incredibly apologetic that I have not lived up to the standards I set myself. I have of course deleted them, and I wish to apologise unreservedly.”

Two British men aged 47 and 45 who were arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life have been released on police bail.

Oxygen canisters in the vehicles exploded in the heat of the fire, causing damage to the windows of nearby residential properties. Thirty-four residents were temporarily displaced while the fire was brought under control.