Authorities have apprehended a 45-year-old man on suspicion of attempted murder following a stabbing spree in a well-known Jewish neighborhood in London, which police are treating as a terrorist act.
On Wednesday morning, two men were hospitalized with serious injuries after being attacked by a knife-wielding individual in Golders Green, North London. Fortunately, both victims are now in stable condition.
The initial attack occurred outside the Hager’s Shul synagogue. A 34-year-old Jewish man, who had just exited the building, was targeted and stabbed multiple times. Surveillance footage captures the attacker nonchalantly walking down the street before abruptly assaulting the man, who was adjusting his hat, leaving him no chance to defend himself.
Shortly thereafter, the suspect reportedly attacked again, stabbing a 76-year-old man further along the road. The path between the two attacks led the suspect past the North London Hatzola, a Jewish ambulance charity previously targeted in an antisemitic arson incident last month.
Following the stabbings, the suspect encountered members of Shomrim, a Jewish community security organization, and law enforcement before being detained. Video from the arrest shows officers chasing the suspect near the North Circular road, using stun guns to subdue him. The arrest took place just 300 yards from where Hatzola ambulances were set ablaze in March.
The suspect, described as a robust man of African descent wearing light-colored clothing and a navy blue jacket, was eventually brought to the ground. An officer can be seen kicking the suspect in the head repeatedly as he resisted arrest. A Shomrim volunteer assisted by restraining the suspect’s legs while officers secured him in handcuffs.
Eventually the suspect, an apparently robustly-built African-heritage male wearing light coloured clothes under a navy blue jacket, falls, and is kicked in the head by an officer several times as he resists arrest. A Shomrim volunteer can be seen sitting on the suspect’s legs as officers wrestle the man into cuffs.
The Metropolitan Police said in a statement that “The suspect also attempted to stab police officers, and was Tasered before being arrested. No officers were injured.”
Counter terror police quickly took over investigation into the case, and shortly afterwards it was declared a suspected terrorist incident.
Given the frequency with which British Jews are the target of attacks now, the latest apparent terror attack has quickly seems demands of the UK government to stop talking about the need to take action, and to actually take action. The Isareli Foreign Ministry said in a statement that there have been “enough words” about antisemitism in Britain, and that “The UK must act decisively and urgently”. They said:
After attacks on synagogues, Jewish institutions, community ambulances and now Jews targeted in Golders Green, the UK government can no longer claim this is under control.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s statements are no substitute for confronting the roots of antisemitism festering across United Kingdom. British Jews should not need security patrols and emergency volunteers to live openly as Jews.
Britain’s Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis also said the time for talk is over. He said:
Following the anti-Semitic stabbing of two Jewish people on the streets of Golders Green this morning, words of condemnation are no longer sufficient. This must be a moment that demands meaningful action from every institution, every community, every leader and every decent person in our country. This is a hatred that we must face down together.
President Trump’s special envoy on antisemitism Ambassador Yehuda Kaploun hit the same notes, adding:
Heartbroken and outraged by another violent anti-Semitic attack – again in the UK. Enough is enough. The UK must take decisive action to ensure the safety and security of Jewish communities now.
In scenes reminiscent of the recent Manchester Synagogue attack, where the then-Home Secretary David Lammy was heckled by members of the Jewish community who told him the government had failed to keep them safe, the chief of the Metropolitan Police was shouted down by local residents in Golders Green.
Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley was met with a barrage of shouts of “resign” and “shame on you” as he attempted to talk to press. Labour Member of Parliament for Golders Green Sarah Sackman was also met with “resign” and “shame” jeers at the same press conference.
