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2026 Golders Green attack

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2026 Golders Green attack
Part of the 2026 London antisemitic attacks
LocationGolders Green, London, England
Date29 April 2026
11:15–11:20 BST (UTC+1)
WeaponKnife
Deaths0
Injured3
This article is about the April 2026 stabbing attack in Golders Green. For the March 2026 arson attack in Golders Green, see 2026 Hatzola arson attack.

On 29 April 2026, a man armed with a knife stabbed and wounded two Jewish men in Golders Green, London, England, after having stabbed and wounded a Muslim man in Southwark. The UK government held an emergency Cabinet Office Briefing Rooms meeting to coordinate its response to the attack, which has been declared a terrorist incident by the Metropolitan Police.

The suspect, a 45-year-old British national born in Somalia, was arrested by police and charged with the attempted murder of three people.

Background

According to the Community Security Trust charity, antisemitic attacks soared since the October 7 attacks and the advent of the Gaza war.[1] In October 2025, two worshippers were killed in an antisemitic terror attack at Heaton Park synagogue.[2]

In the weeks before the stabbings, a series of antisemitic attacks had been committed against Jewish institutions in the UK. On 23 March, ambulances operated by Hatzolah were destroyed by arson in Golders Green. Subsequently, a series of arson attacks were launched against several synagogues and community institutions.[3]

Attack

The attacker was in the care of South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and had been staying in supported accommodation in south-east London for people leaving secure hospital.[4][5] Early on the morning of 29 April 2026 he tried to call a Muslim[6] long-term friend several times, but failing, went to the friend's house in Great Dover Street, Southwark.[7][8] On being buzzed into the friend's home at around 8am, the attacker tried to stab his friend in the upper body with a knife but the friend fended-off the attack, sustaining minor injuries.[9][10] The attacker then took public transport to Brent Cross tube station.[11][12]

The attacker arrived in Golders Green in north-west London shortly after 11am and carried out an attack whereby he attempted to stab Jewish passers‑by. Two men, one aged 34 and the other 76, were stabbed.[13] At 11:15 BST the first male victim was attacked and chased in Highfield Avenue. Shortly after, at 11:20 BST, a second male was repeatedly attacked at the bus stop.[13] The two injured men were treated at the scene by Hatzola and taken to hospital.[14]

A 45‑year‑old man was detained by Shomrim volunteers[citation needed] before being tasered and arrested by police.[14] The attacker attempted to stab police officers before he was arrested.[15] The London Police announced hours after the attack that they were treating the stabbings as an act of terrorism as the suspect allegedly went out with the intention of stabbing "visibly Jewish" looking people.[16] The Iran-linked group Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia claimed responsibility for the attack.[17]

Investigation and charges

Commissioner Mark Rowley stated that the suspect had a "history of serious violence and mental health issues".[18] Police later confirmed that the suspect was a British national, born in Somalia. According to the BBC, he is a 45-year-old British national originally born in Somalia who came to the United Kingdom as a child in the early 1990s. The Metropolitan Police Service stated that he had previously been referred to the government's Prevent counter-terrorism programme in 2020, although that referral was closed the same year. Commissioner Mark Rowley said the suspect had a history of serious violence and mental health issues. Following his arrest, the suspect was treated briefly in hospital and remains in police custody under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act while officers continue their investigation, including searches at an address in south-east London.[13]

The suspect has been charged with the attempted murder of three people.[19]

Reactions

Domestic

The UK government held a Cabinet Office Briefing Rooms (COBR) meeting to organise its response to the attack.[18] Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the attack as "deeply concerning" and "utterly appalling".[20] King Charles III said he was "deeply concerned" about the attack, expressing particular concern for its impact on the Jewish community and offering his thoughts and prayers to the victims, while thanking those who assisted at the scene.[21] London mayor Sadiq Khan said he was "angry," "appalled," and "disgusted" that Jewish people were "living their lives frightened."[13] On the day after the attack, Starmer visited the scene of the incidents and was heckled by a group of protesters who were holding signs and shouting "Keir Starmer, Jew Harmer".[22]

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said "Suffice to say that this is not just an attack on Jewish people. This is much bigger, much broader, much more fundamental, and if you're the group currently being targeted, well, who's next?"[13] Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch and Liberal Democrats leader Ed Davey additionally called for increased police presence and more protective security measures for the Jewish community, respectively.[22]

Zack Polanski, leader of the Green Party of England and Wales condemned the attack as "horrendous,"[22] but retweeted a post on X accusing the police of "repeatedly and violently kicking a mentally ill man in the head" after he had been tasered.[23] Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley defended how officers arrested the attacker and said he was "disappointed" at the way Polanski had promoted "inaccurate and misinformed commentary."[24] Polanski's comments were also condemned by Starmer, prompting Polanski to apologise for "sharing a tweet in haste."[25]

After the attack, the UK threat level was raised from substantial to severe. The UK government said that the increase in the threat level was not only because of the Golders Green attack, but had also been influenced by an increase in Islamist and right-wing threats to the public.[26] However, the government also announced a day after the attack that they are facing an antisemitism emergency.[27]

International

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu slammed Starmer's response and said that "words are not enough to confront this scourge."[28] Foreign minister Gideon Sa'ar condemned Starmer's response and said that the UK "can no longer claim this is under control" and that "decisive and urgent" action is needed against antisemitism.[29] Israeli president Isaac Herzog said he was "horrified by yet another violent attack on Jews in broad daylight on the streets of London," and called on the British government to "take urgent and immediate action before the next antisemitic attack occurs."[30]

See also

References

  1. ^ Associated Press (30 April 2026). "U.K. calls antisemitism an emergency after arson and stabbing attacks on Jewish people". NPR. Retrieved 30 April 2026.
  2. ^ Allingham, Pol (30 April 2026). "A timeline of recent attacks on the UK's Jewish community as man arrested over Golders Green stabbing". The Independent. Retrieved 30 April 2026.
  3. ^ Beck, Eldad (30 April 2026). "UK: 'The end of a golden era'". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 30 April 2026.
  4. ^ Sandford, Daniel (1 May 2026). "Golders Green stabbing suspect in court on three charges of attempted murder". BBC News. London, UK. Archived from the original on 1 May 2026. Retrieved 2 May 2026.
  5. ^ Martin, Amy-Clare (1 May 2026). "Golders Green terror attack suspect was living in home for people who leave secure hospital before stabbings". The Independent. London, UK. Retrieved 2 May 2026.
  6. ^ "Met Police criticised for 'airbrushing' stabbing of third man in terror incident". The National. 1 May 2026. Retrieved 2 May 2026.
  7. ^ Kirk, Tristan (1 May 2026). "Golders Green attack suspect Essa Suleiman 'tried to murder friend before stabbing two Jewish men'". The Standard. London, UK. Retrieved 2 May 2026.
  8. ^ "Essa Suleiman appears in court charged with attempted murder after Golders Green attack". ITV News. London, UK. 1 May 2026. Retrieved 2 May 2026.
  9. ^ Duggan, Joe; Holmes, Richard; Burgess, Sanya (30 April 2026). "Everything we know about Golders Green stabbing suspect as he's named". The i Paper. London, UK. Retrieved 2 May 2026.
  10. ^ Kirk, Tristan (1 May 2026). "Man appears in court accused of stabbing two Jewish men". Irish Examiner. Cork, Ireland. Retrieved 2 May 2026.
  11. ^ Doyle, Liam (1 May 2026). "Golders Green suspect Essa Suleiman appears in court charged with attempted murder". Daily Mirror. London, UK. Retrieved 2 May 2026.
  12. ^ Kirk, Tristan; Young, Sarah (2 May 2026). "Suspect tried to kill friend before going on to stab two Jewish men in London, court told". Irish Independent. Dublin, Ireland. Retrieved 2 May 2026.
  13. ^ a b c d e "What we know about the double stabbing in Golders Green, north London". BBC News. 29 April 2026. Retrieved 30 April 2026.
  14. ^ a b Specia, Megan (29 April 2026). "2 People Stabbed in North London, Jewish Charity Says". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 29 April 2026.
  15. ^ Specia, Megan; Nierenberg, Amelia (29 April 2026). "Stabbing in Jewish Area in North London Treated as a Terrorist Incident, Police Say". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 29 April 2026.
  16. ^ Dodd, Vikram; Mohdin, Aamna; Ahmed, Aneesa (29 April 2026). "Police treating stabbing of two men in Golders Green as terrorism". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 1 May 2026.
  17. ^ Tait, Albert (29 April 2026). "Golders Green terror suspect 'had history of violence'". The Telegraph. Retrieved 29 April 2026.
  18. ^ a b Thompson, Angus; Hatton, Ben; Manning, Lucy; Vaidyanathan, Rajini (29 April 2026). "Police declare terrorist incident after two Jewish men stabbed in north London". BBC News. Retrieved 29 April 2026.
  19. ^ Rawlinson, Kevin (1 May 2026). "Man appears in court over attempted murders of three people in London knife attacks". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 May 2026.
  20. ^ Amos, Owen; Manning, Lucy (29 April 2026). "Two Jewish men seriously injured after being stabbed in Golders Green, north London". BBC News. Retrieved 29 April 2026.
  21. ^ "UK police declare terrorist incident after two Jewish men stabbed in London". ABC News. 29 April 2026.
  22. ^ a b c "Starmer heckled during Golders Green visit". BBC News. 30 April 2026.
  23. ^ Ahmed, Aneesa (30 April 2026). "Zack Polanski's criticism of Golders Green attack arrest will have 'chilling effect', says Met chief". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 1 May 2026.
  24. ^ "Met chief defends officers in Golders Green attack after Greens criticism". BBC News. 1 May 2026. Retrieved 1 May 2026.
  25. ^ "Zack Polanski apologises for sharing post criticising police". BBC News. 1 May 2026. Retrieved 2 May 2026.
  26. ^ "UK terrorism threat level raised to severe after Golders Green attack". BBC News. 1 May 2026. Retrieved 1 May 2026.
  27. ^ Press, The Associated (30 April 2026). "U.K. calls antisemitism an emergency after arson and stabbing attacks on Jewish people". NPR. Retrieved 1 May 2026.
  28. ^ "Starmer's words are 'not enough' after Golders Green attack, Netanyahu says". The Independent. 30 April 2026. Retrieved 2 May 2026.
  29. ^ "Israel demands 'urgent' action after apparent antisemitic attack in Golders Green". The Independent. 29 April 2026. Retrieved 29 April 2026.
  30. ^ Davey-Attlee, Issy Ronald, Jomana Karadsheh, Florence (29 April 2026). "Two Jewish men stabbed in London in what police call terrorist incident". CNN. Retrieved 30 April 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
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