Incident Overview
Two Jewish men were stabbed in Golders Green, north London, in an attack that police have classified as a terrorist incident. The victims, aged 34 and 76, are currently in stable condition in hospital. Authorities have arrested a 45-year-old man in connection with the incident.
The attack follows a recent series of arson attacks targeting Jewish properties in London.
What Happened?
The Metropolitan Police reported that officers responded at 11:16 BST on Wednesday after receiving reports of stabbings on Highfield Avenue, a street branching off Golders Green Road.
CCTV footage shows the suspect on Highfield Avenue at 11:15 BST. The man is seen jogging along the pavement towards Golders Green Road, where he appears to attack a man, chasing him out of view.
Another video, recorded from a vehicle traveling north on Golders Green Road, captures the suspect pursuing a man on the pavement.
Additional CCTV footage timestamped at 11:20 BST depicts the suspect approaching a bus stop and repeatedly attacking a man waiting there, subsequently pushing him onto the road and out of sight.
Multiple verified videos and images show the suspect being detained by police. An officer deploys a Taser, causing the suspect to fall while shouting commands to drop the knife.
Police are then seen administering CPR, and later footage shows the suspect being placed on a stretcher and loaded into an ambulance.
The Metropolitan Police released body-worn camera footage from responding officers. The clip shows the suspect approaching officers before the Taser is used. Officers repeatedly command "drop the knife" as the suspect falls and while they restrain him.
Suspect Information
The arrested individual is a 45-year-old British national born in Somalia. He was taken into custody on suspicion of attempted murder.
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mark Rowley stated that officers confronted a man they believed to be a terrorist who refused to show his hands, was violent, and continued to pose a clear threat. Officers feared the suspect was carrying an explosive device and used a Taser while he continued stabbing.
"We're also working with our partners in the security services to ensure we have a full intelligence picture and one of the lines of inquiry is whether this attack was deliberately targeting the Jewish community in London."
The Metropolitan Police are conducting a search at an address in south-east London. Detectives are investigating a related incident, believed to involve the same suspect, reported earlier the same day.
Police were called at approximately 08:50 BST to an incident at an address on Great Dover Street in Southwark, where a suspect reportedly armed with a knife had an altercation with the occupant before leaving the scene.
Reactions
Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis, representing Britain's largest Jewish community, expressed concern over the safety of visibly Jewish individuals.
"I'm sad to say that today's event proves that if you are visibly Jewish you're not safe and far more needs to be done... It's a sustained effort to terrorise the Jewish community, which will not succeed, because we're a strong and resilient community. We face these kind of attacks and these incidents with great fortitude. However, this cannot be allowed to continue."
London Mayor Sadiq Khan described the situation as "angry", "appalled" and "disgusted" that Jewish people are living in fear.
A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said King Charles III was "naturally deeply concerned" by the attack.
"His thoughts and prayers are with the two individuals who were injured and offers his heartfelt gratitude to those who so selflessly rushed to their aid,"
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer condemned the attack as "utterly appalling" and stated:
"Attacks on our Jewish community are attacks on Britain."
