Met Police Chief Sir Mark Rowley Defends Golders Green Response After Zack Polanski Criticism

A knife attack in Golders Green, north-west London, led to a terror incident and the arrest of 45-year-old Essa Suleiman, who was accused of stabbing two Jewish men and then being tackled by Metropolitan Police officers using tasers and physical force.

“- Published Green Party leader Zack Polanski has come under growing criticism after sharing a social media post condemning the actions of police officers who arrested the suspect in the Golders Green attack”

BBC

The BBC said two officers “Tasered and kicked the suspect in the head” while trying to prise a knife from his hand after he had stabbed two Jewish men in north London on Wednesday.

BBC

The incident triggered a political dispute after Green Party leader Zack Polanski shared a social media post condemning the officers’ actions, with the BBC quoting the post as: “Essentially his officers were repeatedly and violently kicking a mentally ill man in the head when he was already incapacitated by Taser.”

In response, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley wrote to Polanski in an open letter accusing him of “inaccurate and misinformed commentary” that “undermines officer confidence to act,” according to The Times.

LBC reported that Rowley defended the response as “split second” policing decisions made to protect the public amid fears of an explosive device, and said he told Nick Ferrari that the officers were forced to act as they “best see fit.”

The London Evening Standard also described the victims as Shilome Rand, 34, and Moshe Ben Baila, 76, and said a man carrying a blade and a backpack was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after an “altercation” in south London earlier in the day left another person injured.

Multiple reports tied the Met’s use of force to a perceived immediate threat, including fears that the suspect might have an explosive device.

LBC said Rowley told Nick Ferrari that officers were forced to make a “split-second” decision to protect the public amid fears of an explosive device, and described the focus in that instant as “neutralising” the suspect and preventing any further danger to the public.

Daily Express

The BBC similarly reported that on Thursday Rowley said the officers “had not been armed and feared the suspect had been carrying an explosive device,” and that even after being Tasered, the suspect “refused to show his hands, was violent and continued to pose a clear threat.”

The Times added that Rowley accused Polanski of fuelling “rising tensions” after he reshared a post, and quoted Rowley’s letter saying the officers “are nothing short of extraordinary” and that they “were on the scene within a few minutes.”

The BBC also detailed the body-worn camera audio, saying officers can be heard shouting repeatedly for the suspect to “get down on the ground” before he is Tasered, and then “drop the knife.”

The Daily Express and The Spectator both referenced the same online criticism framing, with The Express quoting the post that Polanski shared as “officers were repeatedly and violently kicking a mentally ill man in the head when he was already incapacitated by a Taser,” while The Spectator quoted the Met’s own response that “Our brave officers confronted a man they believed to be a terrorist.”

The dispute over the arrest response quickly became a clash between the Green Party leader and senior police leadership, with multiple politicians and party figures weighing in.

“Met chief defends 'extraordinary' Golders Green police response after criticism from Zack Polanski It comes after Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said in a letter to the Green Party leader that he was “disappointed” by his remarks Sir Mark Rowley has defended two hero officers who apprehended a knifeman in Golders Green, telling LBC that they were forced to make a "split-second" decision to protect the public amid fears of an explosive device”

LBC

The BBC said Anthony Slaughter, who leads the Greens in Wales, disagreed with Polanski’s decision to repost the comment, telling LBC it seemed “inappropriate,” while Green Party deputy leader Rachel Millward praised the officers as “brave” and said the incident would have been “beyond terrifying.”

The BBC also quoted a Green Party spokesperson saying: “Zack has seen the video like everyone else - and doesn't know the full picture and knows it was a very difficult situation for the authorities - but we do need to understand more about the response.”

In The Times, Rowley’s open letter accused Polanski of sharing the views of “another armchair critic who thinks they could do the job,” and said Rowley was “disappointed” because the post was “inaccurate and misinformed commentary.”

The Times further reported that Rowley told Times Radio that “When somebody influential puts something out there which is incorrect and can undermine the confidence of my officers to protect Londoners, they need to see that I’m supporting them to give them that confidence to carry on and do their job.”

LBC reported Rowley’s call for public support, saying: “Can you imagine being in that situation without a firearm?”

While the core facts of the arrest and the online criticism were shared across outlets, the framing differed sharply, especially around whether the officers’ actions were justified and whether Polanski’s reposting was responsible.

The BBC described Polanski’s post as condemning the actions of police officers who arrested the suspect, and it quoted the criticism that officers were “repeatedly and violently kicking a mentally ill man in the head when he was already incapacitated by Taser.”

London Evening Standard

The Times emphasized Rowley’s argument that Polanski’s resharing was “contributing to the rising tensions we are seeing in society and undermines officer confidence to act,” and it included Rowley’s view that “Free speech is an important facet of a democratic society” but that the right approach was “to show compassion, lower tensions and not inflame them further.”

The Spectator took a more openly supportive stance toward the police, calling Polanski’s reaction “shameful” and quoting a Met statement that “Our brave officers confronted a man they believed to be a terrorist,” while also quoting former police officer Paul Birch saying: “These keyboard warriors have no idea what it’s like to face immediate and possibly lethal violence.”

By contrast, the London Evening Standard focused on the political backlash against Polanski and the social media post itself, reporting that Home Office minister Mike Tapp said: “I’m disgusted that anyone with this view is leading any political party. The Green Party has hit a new low.”

The Daily Express similarly centered outrage, quoting Labour MP David Taylor: “How can anyone watch that video from Golders Green and not feel proud of the way those brave police officers wrestled with the attacker who would not let go of his knife?” and it also quoted Tory MP Neil O’Brien saying: “As usual, the Greens' sympathies are with the terrorist rather than the brave police officers stopping him.”

The aftermath of the Golders Green attack and the ensuing political row included legal proceedings, police oversight, and continued public pressure on police and politicians.

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The BBC said Essa Suleiman, 45, has been charged with attempted murder and will appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Friday morning, and it said the Met released footage from body-worn cameras showing officers shouting “get down on the ground” and “drop the knife.”

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The Times reported that the Met referred itself to the police watchdog over injuries reportedly sustained in the arrest, and it quoted the Independent Office for Police Conduct saying: “We received a mandatory referral from the Met this afternoon, which relates to injuries reportedly sustained by the man who was arrested following [Wednesday’s] attacks in Golders Green.”

The BBC also said the Independent Office for Police Conduct spokesperson stated: “We received a mandatory referral from the Met this afternoon,” and described that the man was taken to hospital and discharged the same day while the watchdog assessed the referral.

LBC reported that Rowley issued a call for public support of the officers, telling Nick Ferrari: “I need officers to see they need my support and public support for that,” and it framed the Met chief’s defense as a response to Polanski’s post.

The Times added that Rowley denied the letter meant he was “intervening in politics,” telling Times Radio: “I’m not intervening in politics. He was intervening in operational policing and I need to defend my officers’ ability to do that.”