British Police Arrest Essa Suleiman After Golders Green Stabbing Injures Two Jewish People

A stabbing attack in Golders Green, north London, injured two Jewish people and triggered a police investigation that was formally declared a “terrorist incident,” with British officials linking the attack to a broader wave of antisemitic attacks.

“A shadowy group linked to the Iranian regime is claiming it was behind the stabbing attack on two Jewish people in north London on Wednesday (Thursday AEST)”

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The Shomrim organization said that “a man was seen running along Golders Green Road, carrying a knife and attempting to stab Jewish residents” before Shomrim members could stop him, and it added that police “used a Taser during the arrest of the attacker.”

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Metropolitan Police said the suspect was a 45-year-old British national “born in Somalia,” and NBC News reported that he was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and later discharged from hospital before being taken to a London police station where he remained in police custody.

CBS News reported that the UK raised its national threat level from “substantial” to “severe” after the attack, and it quoted Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood describing it as “abhorrent” and a “vile act of terrorism.”

Le Monde reported that Laurence Taylor, deputy commissioner of the London Metropolitan Police, said, “This event has now been formally declared as a terrorist act,” and it said the victims were aged 76 and 34.

The Guardian reported that police said two men, aged 76 and 34, were stabbed on Wednesday morning in Golders Green and were being treated by Hatzola, a Jewish volunteer ambulance service, while a 45-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after being shot with a stun gun to subdue him.

In parallel, the Jerusalem Post described the suspect as running along a road attempting to stab Jewish residents, and it said Shomrim volunteers and police detained him after he was tasered before arrest.

After the Golders Green stabbing, the UK government escalated its counterterror posture and police moved toward formal charges.

CBS News said the national threat level was raised from “substantial” to “severe,” and it reported that officials cited “the increasing threat of Islamist and extreme right-wing terrorism in the country.”

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In the government statement, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood described the attack as “abhorrent” and a “vile act of terrorism,” while the statement also said, “The increase in threat comes following yesterday's stabbing in Golders Green in North London, but it is not solely a result of that attack.”

The Guardian likewise described the police response as a terrorism investigation, quoting counter-terrorism policing Laurence Taylor saying, “This has now formally been declared a terrorist incident,” and it said officers were working to establish “exactly what has happened.”

NBC News reported that Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor told reporters that counterterrorism officers were investigating “whether this attack was deliberately targeting the Jewish community in London,” and it quoted Commissioner Mark Rowley calling it an “attack on British Jews.”

By Friday, The Independent reported that Essa Suleiman, 45, was charged with two counts of attempted murder and one count of possession of a bladed article in a public place, and it said he was due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court.

Sky News reported that Suleiman was charged with two counts of attempted murder after the Wednesday terror attack in Golders Green, and it said he was also charged in relation to a separate incident on the same date in Great Dover Street.

British political leaders and Jewish community figures responded quickly, linking the stabbing to antisemitism and calling for action beyond condemnation.

Le Monde reported that Prime Minister Keir Starmer told Parliament, “This concerns every member of this assembly,” and it said he posted on X, “The antisemitic attack in Golders Green is absolutely revolting. To attack our Jewish community is to attack the United Kingdom.”

NBC News quoted Starmer describing the incident as antisemitic and “utterly appalling,” and it said he promised more funding to provide “the level of protection that is needed” and that the government would “take measures to deal with malign state actors.”

The Guardian quoted Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis saying, “words of condemnation are now longer enough,” and it described him branding antisemitism “a hatred that we must face down together” while calling the Golders Green attack “a moment for “meaningful action”.”

In parallel, the Jerusalem Post reported that Mark Rowley described the suspect as having “a history of serious violence and mental health issues.”

The Independent and Sky News both described Rowley’s concerns about policing sustainability, with The Independent reporting Rowley said he was “very concerned” about the sustainability of the police’s current approach and that it was based on “drafting resources from across London to augment the local teams.”

The Times reported that Met commissioner Sir Mark Rowley accused Green Party leader Zack Polanski of fuelling “rising tensions” after Polanski reshared a post, and it quoted Rowley saying his officers “are nothing short of extraordinary.”

While police and government statements framed the stabbing as a terrorist incident targeting Jewish people, other narratives and claims emerged from outside official channels.

Le Monde reported that the Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiyya group praised the attack and attributed it to its “lone wolves,” and it said the group “has claimed several antisemitic arson attacks and arson attempts in north London in recent weeks.”

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The Jerusalem Post added that Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia (HAYI) took responsibility in a video released on Islamic Regime-affiliated channels, quoting a statement that “Zionists were targeted by our lone wolves in the Golders Green Area of London.”

In contrast, NBC News described police investigating “whether this attack was deliberately targeting the Jewish community in London,” and it said counterterrorism officers were working to establish the intent of the attack.

The Guardian described the police line of inquiry as whether the attack “was deliberately targeting the Jewish community in London,” and it said officers were working with partners in the security services to ensure “a full intelligence picture.”

Meanwhile, The Times focused on the domestic political debate around policing, reporting that Sir Mark Rowley accused Zack Polanski of fuelling “rising tensions” after he reshared a post alleging police “repeatedly and violently kicking a mentally ill man in the head when he was already incapacitated by Taser.”

The Times quoted Rowley saying, “I am disappointed because it is this kind of inaccurate and misinformed commentary,” and it said the Met referred itself to the police watchdog over injuries reportedly sustained in the arrest.

As the investigation continued, multiple outlets described immediate next steps that ranged from crisis meetings to longer-term questions about how police protect Jewish communities.

The Guardian reported that Prime Minister Keir Starmer called a Cobra meeting and said he would meet with criminal justice agencies on Thursday, quoting Starmer saying, “I’m holding a meeting tomorrow with the criminal justice agencies to make sure that we have effective and swift justice in these cases.”

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Le Monde reported that Starmer held a crisis meeting at Downing Street and said, “Words of condemnation are no longer enough,” while it quoted Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis calling “every institution, community, leader, and person in this country to take concrete measures.”

The Independent reported that the government would take action on pro-Palestine protests “if we need to,” and it quoted Justice minister Alex Davies Jones saying the right to protest is “fundamental” but that some protests have been “hijacked” by people “seeking to cause and sow division and hatred.”

Sky News reported that the Metropolitan Police would review whether pro-Palestine marches could go ahead after the terror threat level was raised to “severe,” and it said Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor told broadcasters, “As part of our review into the change in the threat level, policing will be reviewing all events across the country.”

Police leadership also raised concerns about the sustainability of the approach, with The Independent reporting Rowley said he was “very concerned” about the sustainability of drafting resources from across London and that he put a proposal into Government for “a dedicated, enhanced neighbourhood policing presence focused on Jewish communities.”

The Times added that Rowley said his officers were on the scene “within a few minutes” and that their actions “undoubtedly prevented further injury and saved lives,” while it said the Met referred itself to the police watchdog over injuries reportedly sustained in the arrest.