The recent stabbing of two Jewish men in Golders Green, north London, has been officially declared a terrorist incident by the Metropolitan Police. The suspect, Essa Suleiman, 45, has been charged with attempted murder and possessing a knife in public. The attack, which occurred shortly after 11 am on Wednesday, saw two men, aged 34 and 76, suffer knife wounds.
Suleiman, described as a British national born in Somalia, reportedly chased individuals and attempted to stab police officers before being apprehended. Body-worn footage released by the Met shows officers Taser-ing the suspect to the ground while repeatedly shouting "drop the knife." He was initially taken to hospital but later discharged and taken into police custody.
The incident has heightened anxieties within the local Jewish community, which has experienced a series of antisemitic attacks in recent weeks. These include arson attacks on Jewish targets and previous incidents in Golders Green. One witness described the attacker as "trying to attack anyone visibly Jewish."
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Counterterrorism officers are leading the investigation, examining the suspect's background and potential links to extremist groups. Investigators are considering all possible motives, including whether the attack deliberately targeted the Jewish community.
Background and Previous Referrals
Essa Suleiman had previously been referred to the government's counter-extremism programme, Prevent. He appeared in court on Friday wearing a police-issued grey sweatshirt and trousers, facing charges related to the attempted murder of Shloime Rand, 34, and Moshe Shine, 76. Rand has since been released from hospital, according to Rabbi Levi Schapiro.
The investigation also encompasses a separate altercation at an address on Great Dover Street, Southwark, that occurred earlier on Wednesday. Officers were observed searching a property in south-east London as part of these inquiries. The Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Mark Rowley, praised the responding officers, stating their actions "undoubtedly prevented further injury and saved lives."
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The attack prompted an emergency Cobra meeting chaired by the prime minister. Local MP and justice minister Sarah Sackman noted it as "an attack on Londoners. It is an attack on British Jews."
It is important to distinguish this event from unrelated incidents, such as the recent shooting death of a 14-year-old schoolboy in Woolwich, which locals attributed to "gang 'postcode wars'."
