Essa Suleiman Stabs Two Jewish Men in Golders Green, London, Police Arrest Suspect

A stabbing attack in the Golders Green neighborhood of London, England, left two Jewish men seriously wounded on Wednesday, prompting police to arrest a 45-year-old suspect and later designate the incident a terrorist attack.

The Metropolitan Police said it arrested “a 45-year-old man, who is a British national, born in Somalia” on suspicion of attempted murder, and that the suspect 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.”

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Police said two men, “76 and 34,” were treated at the scene for stab wounds and were stable, and the BBC reported the suspect was 45-year-old Essa Suleiman from south-east London.

The victims were identified by Britain’s chief rabbi, Ephraim Mirvis, as Nachman Moshe ben Chaya Sarah and Moshe Ben Baila, and the Jerusalem Post also named them as Nachman Moshe ben Chaya Sarah, 76, and Moshe ben Baila, 34.

The attack unfolded in a neighborhood described as home to one of the United Kingdom’s most established Jewish communities, and multiple outlets tied the incident to the area’s recent pattern of antisemitic violence.

Jonathan Harounoff, a British journalist who witnessed the aftermath, said, “Not a normal existence for British Jews here in 2026, or any year,” and added, “Jewish communities in England are under attack.”

In parallel, the Combat Antisemitism Movement said in a statement, “This is not random violence. This is open season on Jews.”

Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor said counterterrorism officers were investigating “whether this attack was deliberately targeting the Jewish community in London,” while Commissioner Mark Rowley called it an “attack on British Jews.”

The BBC and NBC both described the suspect as having a “history of serious violence and mental health issues,” with Rowley saying he was stunned and tackled by officers who feared he was carrying an explosive device after he refused to show his hands.

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NBC News reported that Rowley referenced a video police released showing officers confronting the suspect and using a stun gun before they pulled a knife out of one hand, and the Jerusalem Post similarly said the suspect was tasered before arrest.

The BBC added that Suleiman had been referred into the government counter-terrorism Prevent programme in 2020, and that the referral was closed in the same year, while the Guardian reported the Met confirmed the suspect “was known to the Prevent programme and was subject to a Prevent referral in 2020, which was closed in the same year.”

The Guardian also quoted counter-terrorism police saying, “We can confirm the suspect was known to the Prevent programme and was subject to a Prevent referral in 2020, which was closed in the same year,” and said the investigation remained ongoing.

The Independent described criticism of the government’s response to antisemitic attacks and said the government planned to invest “an additional £25m” in police patrols and security to keep Jewish communities safe.

The Times framed the incident as a major escalation, quoting Britain’s terror watchdog describing antisemitism as the “biggest national emergency since Covid,” and said police declared a terrorist incident after the victims were knifed within minutes of each other.

While police investigated the circumstances, Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia (HAYI) claimed responsibility for the stabbing, and outlets quoted the group’s language about targeting Jews in Golders Green.

The Combat Antisemitism Movement said the SITE Intelligence Group reported that Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia claimed responsibility, quoting the group: “Zionists were targeted by our lone wolves in the Golders Green area of London.”

The Jerusalem Post reported HAYI’s statement in a video, saying, “Zionists were targeted by our lone wolves in the Golders Green Area of London,” and added that the video described the “heroic act” leaving “two Zionists critically wounded and on the brink of death.”

The Jerusalem Post also included HAYI’s further call, stating, “We call upon all free people in the world, especially Muslims, to carry out qualitative operations in defense of humanity, occupied Palestine, al-Aqsa Mosque, and the prisoners.”

Against that backdrop, British political leaders and Jewish community figures issued condemnations and demanded action.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the attack was antisemitic and “utterly appalling,” adding, “Attacks on our Jewish community are attacks on Britain,” and he promised more funding for “the level of protection that is needed.”

London Mayor Sadiq Khan condemned the attack and promised “high-visibility patrols in the area,” while chief rabbi Ephraim Mirvis said on X, “Words of condemnation are no longer sufficient.”

Different outlets emphasized different aspects of the same incident, from the suspect’s background to the scale of government response and the framing of antisemitism as a national emergency.

NBC News foregrounded the Metropolitan Police’s arrest and the prime minister’s description of the attack as an “antisemitic attack,” quoting Starmer as saying it was “utterly appalling” and that “Attacks on our Jewish community are attacks on Britain.”

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The BBC focused on the suspect’s identity and history, stating it understood the suspect was 45-year-old Essa Suleiman, born in Somalia, who came to the UK in the early 1990s and was referred into Prevent in 2020.

The Guardian, while also confirming Prevent, added a procedural emphasis by quoting counter-terrorism police: “Given the investigation remains ongoing, we will not be providing any further information in respect of this matter at this time.”

The Independent highlighted the political backlash around protection and said the government planned “an additional £25m” investment in police patrols and security, while also describing Starmer being heckled by protesters organized by Stop the Hate, including a protester shouting that Starmer was a “traitor.”

The Times framed the broader environment by quoting a terror watchdog’s assessment that antisemitism was the “biggest national emergency since Covid,” and it also reported that Israel’s foreign ministry said Starmer’s statements were “no substitute for confronting the roots of antisemitism.”

Meanwhile, the Combat Antisemitism Movement and CAM CEO Sacha Roytman presented the incident as part of “open season on Jews,” with Roytman saying, “This is not random violence. This is open season on Jews.”

The stabbing’s immediate aftermath triggered a set of next steps described by police, government, and community leaders, with the investigation focused on whether the attack targeted the Jewish community and whether it connected to wider violence.

Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor said counterterrorism officers were investigating “whether this attack was deliberately targeting the Jewish community in London,” and the Guardian reported counter-terrorism police said the investigation remained ongoing and that they would not provide further information.

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NBC News said Commissioner Mark Rowley called it an “attack on British Jews,” and it reported that counterterrorism officers were working to establish the targeting question while the suspect remained in custody.

The Independent reported that police revealed the 45-year-old suspect had been reported to the counter-extremism programme, Prevent, in 2020, and that the referral was closed in the same year, while the BBC said an address in south-east London was being searched.

Beyond the investigation, government leaders promised additional security and legislative changes, with Starmer telling volunteers that “My Government is taking immediate action,” and saying the government would “fast-track legislation to deal with malign state actors.”

London Mayor Sadiq Khan said the Metropolitan police had surged its policing presence in Barnet over the last four weeks and planned additional policing over the next month, and he said he would continue discussions with ministers and the Met about “the additional national funding required to deliver the long-term step-change in policing presence.”

Community leaders also pressed for action rather than statements, with Mirvis saying, “This must be a moment that demands meaningful action from every institution, every leader, every decent person in our country,” and CAM CEO Sacha Roytman warning, “The question is whether those in power will act now, or wait until the next attack makes the cost of inaction further undeniable.”