A 45-year-old man has been formally charged with attempted murder following the stabbing of two Jewish individuals in London. The suspect, identified as Essa Suleiman, is facing serious allegations related to these violent acts, which occurred in the Golders Green area.

Authorities have confirmed that Suleiman is also charged with a separate count of attempted murder connected to an earlier incident on the same day in another part of the city, during which a man sustained minor injuries.

Essa Suleiman, originally from Somalia and now a British citizen residing in London, appeared in a court in London on Friday. He stood before Westminster Magistrates’ Court accused of the attempted murder of two individuals, 34-year-old Shloime Rand and 76-year-old Moshe Shine, who is referred to in the charges as Norman Shine. Additionally, he faces charges of possessing a bladed weapon during the assault.

Following his court appearance, Suleiman was denied bail and remains in custody. His next court appearance is scheduled at the Old Bailey on May 15, where the case will continue to unfold.

He appeared at London’s Westminster Magistrates’ Court charged with two counts of the attempted murder of 34-year-old Shloime Rand and 76-year-old Moshe Shine — named in the charges as Norman Shine — and possession of a bladed article in relation to the attack.

Suleiman was remanded in custody and will appear at London’s Old Bailey court on 15 May.

Police earlier said that Rand had been released from the hospital, while Shine remained in a stable condition.

The British government pledged to tackle antisemitism after the stabbings in an area in north London that is an epicentre of Britain’s Jewish community.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said his government would increase security for the Jewish community.

Britain’s official terrorism threat level was raised from substantial to severe after the stabbing attack.

Severe is the second-highest rung on a five-point scale and means intelligence agencies consider an attack highly likely in the next six months.

Police say Suleiman was referred in 2020 to the government’s Prevent program, which tries to steer individuals away from extremism.

The police force said his file was closed later the same year, and did not disclose the reason for the referral.

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