By Nana Karikari, Senior Global Affairs Correspondent
The Metropolitan Police in the United Kingdom have formally declared a stabbing attack in the Golders Green neighborhood a terrorist incident. The assault occurred Wednesday when a lone assailant targeted members of the public in an area known for its large Jewish population. Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor confirmed that counterterrorism officers are working to establish “whether this attack was deliberately targeting the Jewish community in London.” Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mark Rowley described the event as an “attack on British Jews.” Detectives believe the suspect was also involved in a separate altercation earlier on Wednesday in southeast London where a person received minor injuries.
Details of the Assault and Suspect
The Metropolitan Police confirmed the arrest of the individual responsible for the assault. “A 45-year-old man, who is a British national, born in Somalia, was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder,” the Metropolitan Police said in a statement. “He was initially taken to hospital but has since been discharged and has been taken to a London police station where he remains in police custody.” Rowley noted the suspect “has a history of serious violence and mental health issues.” Video released by police shows officers using a Taser before recovering a knife. A Shomrim volunteer told The Jerusalem Post that it took multiple taser shots before the suspect could be subdued after he suffered cardiac arrest at the scene. Officers tackled the man amid fears he was carrying an explosive device after he refused to show his hands.
Victims Identified and Conditions Stable
Two men, aged 76 and 34, were treated at the scene for stab wounds by Hatzola, a volunteer emergency medical service. Britain’s Chief Rabbi, Ephraim Mirvis, identified the victims as Nachman Moshe ben Chaya Sarah and Moshe Ben Baila. Both remain in stable condition at a local hospital. Residents reported the attack took place near the Netzach Yisroel Synagogue. Author Jonathan Harounoff, who was nearby, noted it is “devastating to see the place where I was born and raised… become a hotbed of Jew hatred and virulent terrorism.” He added that there “have been enough wake-up calls.”
Claims of Foreign Influence and State Actors
A pro-Iranian group, Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiyya (HAYI), claimed responsibility for the stabbings via social media. The group described the victims as “Zionists targeted by our lone wolves.” The group further claimed “anyone who is able to kill Zionists should not hesitate” and called on Americans to kill US President Donald Trump. Commissioner Rowley acknowledged that “some individuals are being encouraged, persuaded or paid to commit acts of violence on behalf of foreign organizations and hostile states.” Rowley noted that “legitimate debate about international affairs should never be allowed to legitimize antisemitism or violence against British Jews” and asked “Why don’t we see more condemnation of the attacks we’ve seen in recent weeks?”
Political Leaders Condemn Appalling Antisemitism
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Wednesday that the country was facing a “deeply concerning” wave of violence against Jewish residents after a stabbing in north London, which followed more than a dozen attacks that are being investigated over possible links to Iran. Starmer described the incident as an “utterly appalling” antisemitic attack, asserting that “attacks on our Jewish community are attacks on Britain.” He has since convened a Cobra meeting to coordinate a national response. Starmer promised more funding to provide “the level of protection that is needed.” Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper and London Mayor Sadiq Khan also issued condensations. A spokesperson for King Charles said the monarch was “being kept fully informed and is naturally deeply concerned, in particular about the impact for the Jewish community.”
Patterns of Violence and Community Fear
The stabbings follow a series of antisemitic incidents in the North London suburb, including a March arson attack on Hatzola ambulances. Three men and a teenager have been charged in that case. On Monday, a separate suspected arson attack was reported at a memorial wall in the Golders Green area. BBC News said that the wall had depicted Iranians killed protesting the country’s regime and was situated near a Jewish center. A section of the wall also commemorated those killed in the Hamas-led attacks in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. Police said that counterterrorism officers were leading an investigation of that incident but it was not yet being treated as a terrorism incident. “We recognise that this incident will heighten concerns in the Golders Green area, where residents have already faced a series of attacks,” Superintendent Williams said in a statement Monday.
Escalation of National Incidents
The number of antisemitic incidents reported in the United Kingdom has surged since the Israel-Hamas war began in late 2023, including repeated attacks on synagogues. The Community Security Trust, a British charity that works to protect the country’s Jewish population, recorded 3,700 incidents last year alone, compared with 1,662 in 2022. Phil Rosenberg, president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, remarked that antisemites seek “to raise the price of being Jewish.” He told Sky News, “We’ve been pretty shocked about how mute much of society has been over the past month.”
International Demands for Immediate Action
The attack has drawn sharp criticism from Israeli leaders. President Isaac Herzog stated it has become “dangerous to openly walk the streets as a Jew” in London and called for urgent action. Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel called the attack an “inevitable result of policies that embolden and legitimize Islamist elements.” “Words of condemnation are no longer sufficient,” Mirvis, the chief rabbi, said on X. “This must be a moment that demands meaningful action from every institution, every leader, every decent person in our country.”
Commitment to Communal Security and Justice
As the investigation continues, British authorities have intensified their efforts to restore a sense of safety to the Golders Green community. Commissioner Rowley noted that while “it is completely understandable why Jewish Londoners feel afraid,” the Metropolitan Police are committed to increasing “high-visibility patrols” and “armed police patrols” to deter further violence. The government’s focus remains on balancing the protection of religious freedom with the rigorous prosecution of those fueled by domestic extremism or foreign interference. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing challenge to maintain civil cohesion amidst rising global tensions.
