The Metropolitan Police have formally declared a terrorist incident after two Jewish men were stabbed in an apparent antisemitic attack in Golders Green, north London, on Wednesday morning. Head of Counter Terrorism Policing, Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, confirmed that the investigation is being led by counter-terrorism officers.
The Attack
The two victims, aged 76 and 34, were attacked shortly after 11am in Highfield Avenue. They remain in hospital in a stable condition. A 45-year-old man was arrested after being seen running along Golders Green Road armed with a knife and attempting to stab Jewish members of the public, according to the Jewish security group Shomrim. The group’s members detained the suspect before he was tasered and arrested after allegedly trying to stab police officers.
Witness Accounts
Tariq Aziz, who works at a pizza takeaway on Golders Green Road, said he helped the elderly victim after he came into the shop. “He came to our shop and then I gave him a tissue and helped him, and then police came suddenly and arrested the guy,” he told the Press Association. Another witness described seeing the suspect walking away as one of the victims bled from his neck.
Ben Grossnass, from Shomrim’s emergency response unit, said volunteers arrived within minutes. “I saw a lot of shock in the street and the attacker was having CPR, I think he went into cardiac arrest after being tasered. There is a lot of hate in society and antisemitism.”
Political and Religious Condemnation
Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis said “words of condemnation are no longer sufficient” and called for “meaningful action” against antisemitism. The Israeli foreign ministry stated that the UK Government “can no longer claim this is under control” and that “British Jews should not need security patrols and emergency volunteers to live openly as Jews.”
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer described the attack as “deeply concerning,” while Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy called it “horrific.” Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said she was being kept updated by police. Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan said there is “no place for antisemitism in society” and confirmed increased police patrols in the area.
Investigation Ongoing
The incident occurred near a memorial wall where an attempted arson attack took place on Monday, and close to where four Jewish community ambulances were destroyed in a fire in March. Police are working to establish the “nationality and background” of the suspect. The London Ambulance Service confirmed the attacker was also taken to hospital after receiving CPR at the scene.
