Two Jewish Men Stabbed in Golders Green, London
Two Jewish men were stabbed in Golders Green, north London, in an incident that police have declared a terrorist attack.
The victims, aged 76 and 34, received treatment at the scene and are currently in stable condition in hospital, according to the Metropolitan Police.
Suspect Arrested After Police Taser Intervention
A 45-year-old man was subdued with a Taser by police before being arrested on suspicion of attempted murder. The suspect remains in custody as authorities work to determine his nationality and background.
Prime Minister Condemns Attack as Antisemitic
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer described the stabbing as an "antisemitic attack" and called it "utterly appalling," noting it as the latest in a series of such incidents in the UK.
"Attacks on our Jewish community are attacks on Britain," Sir Keir stated.
Incident Details and Police Response
The Metropolitan Police reported that officers responded at 11:16 BST on Wednesday following reports of stabbings on Highfield Avenue, off Golders Green Road.
The suspect also attempted to stab attending officers but no injuries were reported among the police.
Video Footage of Arrest
Video circulated on social media shows the arrest moment: two officers approach the man, one deploys a Taser causing him to fall. The suspect then appears to hold a sharp object to his chest, with officers and a bystander attempting to disarm him. The footage shows officers kicking the suspect in the head multiple times during the struggle.
Police Commissioner Praises Officers' Courage
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley commended the bravery of the officers who made the arrest, noting they were unarmed and feared the suspect might have an explosive device.
"These were not armed officers and they feared he was carrying an explosive device," Sir Mark said.
He added that the suspect had a history of serious violence and mental health issues.
Eyewitness Account
Eyewitness Daniela, 29, told the BBC she was shopping nearby when she heard people shouting, "He's got a knife, run." She took shelter in a bookshop and saw the suspect running toward the North Circular Road.
"At that point, no one was on the street – everyone had run," she said. "We were a group of mums with buggies. The shop owner locked the door. We were speechless."
CCTV Footage Shows Suspect's Actions
CCTV footage appears to show a man lunging at a person near a bus stop. Another clip shows a man in similar clothing jogging before chasing a passerby.
Community Security Groups Respond
Sir Keir Starmer expressed gratitude to Shomrim, the Jewish security group whose responders initially detained the suspect, as well as the volunteer ambulance service Hatzola and the police for their swift action.
Shomrim reported dispatching volunteers after receiving a call about a man armed with a knife attempting to stab Jewish members of the public along Golders Green Road.
Ben Grossnass, a coordinator for Shomrim, told the BBC, "Our volunteers were the first on scene."
Attack Declared Terrorist Incident
Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, head of Counter Terrorism Policing, formally declared the attack a terrorist incident.
Sir Mark Rowley expressed his concern for the victims, emphasizing they were attacked while going about their daily lives.
"Whilst I can't comment on live investigations, we know that some individuals are being encouraged, persuaded or paid to commit acts of violence on behalf of foreign organisations and hostile states," he said.
Public Reaction and Political Response
During Sir Mark's statement, bystanders heckled, shouting "shame on you" and "you've failed," calling for his resignation. Local MP Sarah Sackman was also heckled.
Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis, representing Britain's largest Jewish community, stated the incident demonstrates that visibly Jewish individuals are not safe and called for meaningful action from all sectors of society.
"This must be a moment that demands meaningful action from every institution, every community, every leader and every decent person in our country," he said.
Context of Recent Antisemitic Incidents
The attack occurred less than a week after a suspected arson attack on a memorial wall in Golders Green and just over a month after ambulances operated by Jewish medical charity Hatzola were set on fire.
Earlier this month, a synagogue in Kenton, north London, was petrol-bombed, and in October, two Jewish individuals were killed in a stabbing attack at a synagogue in Manchester.
Statements from Officials
London Mayor Sadiq Khan expressed anger and disgust that Jewish people are living in fear.
"I've never experienced this level of attacks on Jewish people across our country," he said.
A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said King Charles III was "naturally deeply concerned" by the attack.
"His thoughts and prayers are with the two individuals who were injured and offers his heartfelt gratitude to those who so selflessly rushed to their aid," the spokesperson added.
Government Response and Security Measures
Sir Keir Starmer indicated plans to review enhanced security measures and increase funding for protecting Jewish communities.
He added that measures "to deal with malign state actors" were also necessary, noting that several previous antisemitic attacks have been linked to hostile regimes.
The prime minister's remarks followed an emergency cabinet meeting with Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, London Mayor Sadiq Khan, and others.
Home Secretary Mahmood announced an enhanced police presence would continue and pledged to "strain every sinew to keep our Jewish community safe."
Political Leaders Condemn Violence
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch described the situation as an "epidemic of violence against Jewish people" constituting a "national emergency."
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage called the attack "abhorrent, appalling, but sadly now totally unsurprising," stating, "It is open season on Jewish people in this country."
