Two Jewish men were stabbed on Wednesday in north London in an attack that police have declared a terrorist incident, following a series of arson attacks targeting Jewish sites.
King Charles III, Keir Starmer and London Mayor Sadiq Khan strongly condemned the “appalling” assault in Golders Green, an area with a large Jewish population.
Police said a 45-year-old man was arrested after also attempting to stab officers. The two victims, aged 76 and 34, are in stable condition in hospital.
Speaking at the scene, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mark Rowley said the suspect has “a history of serious violence and mental health issues”. He stressed that “an attack on one community is an attack on all London’s communities.”
Starmer echoed the sentiment, stating on X that attacks on the Jewish community are attacks on Britain, and vowed that those responsible would be brought to justice. King Charles III, currently on a state visit to the United States, said he was “deeply concerned” in a statement issued by Buckingham Palace.
The stabbings come amid a recent wave of arson attacks on synagogues and other Jewish sites in north London, raising security concerns within the community.
‘Horrific attack’
Israel’s foreign ministry criticised the UK government following the incident. It said that after repeated attacks on Jewish institutions and individuals, authorities could no longer claim the situation was under control.
Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, head of UK Counter Terrorism Policing, confirmed that the stabbings have formally been declared a terrorist incident.
He added that counter-terror officers and the Metropolitan Police are working closely with security services to establish a full intelligence picture. One key line of inquiry is whether the attack specifically targeted the Jewish community.
The incident occurred shortly after 1000 GMT, with the Shomrim first reporting that a knife-wielding man was attempting to attack Jewish members of the public. Shomrim volunteers helped detain the suspect before police subdued him using an electroshock weapon, drawing widespread praise for their response.
The victims were treated at the scene by Hatzola.
The attack follows a deadly synagogue assault in Manchester last October during Yom Kippur, which killed two people and injured three, heightening fears among Jewish communities.
A Shomrim volunteer, Stephen Bak, expressed concern at the scene, saying daily life has become increasingly difficult due to fear and insecurity.
‘Shocking’
Mayor Sadiq Khan described the rise in anti-Semitic incidents as “shocking” and emphasised that there must be no place for antisemitism in society.
Britain’s Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis said the community remains strong and resilient but warned that such attacks must stop immediately, calling for zero tolerance.
Recent incidents include the torching of four Hatzola ambulances in late March, an attack on Kenton United Synagogue in Harrow, and vandalism at a Jewish charity. Finchley Reform Synagogue was also targeted last week.
Police have arrested at least 26 people in connection with the series of attacks, which began after the outbreak of the US-Iran war on February 28.