Golders Green terror attack latest: Essa Suleiman, 45, charged with attempted murder after two Jewish men stabbed – UK Times

Met Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley has said he is “very concerned” about the sustainability of the police’s current approach to protecting Jewish communities in London following the double stabbing in Golders Green.

Sir Mark told Times Radio on Friday morning: “I’m very concerned about the sustainability of our current approach, which is based on drafting resources from across London to augment the local teams.

“Obviously, the horrific attack took place on Wednesday. That evening, I put a proposal into Government about what it would take to be able to sustain this with a dedicated, enhanced neighbourhood policing presence focused on Jewish communities and some extra specialist resources, such as more firearms officers to support them, (the) best parts of 300 extra officers that we’re looking at, and I hope we get some resolution on the funding conversations with government imminently.

“It’s good they’ve made some interim funding announcements, but to be able to recruit and sustain that, I need some urgent updates.”

He also warned “we’re facing a sort of building, sort of pandemic of antisemitism in society”, adding “we need work done upstream to tackle those attitudes in society, which are far too prevalent”.

Detectives have urged the public not to speculate on details of the alleged attack in Golders Green on Wednesday after a man has been charged with attempted murder.

Essa Suleiman, 45, has been charged with attempted murder following the incident which left two men injured.

He also faces charges linked to a separate stabbing the same day and possession of a weapon.

Commander Helen Flanagan, Head of Counter Terrorism Policing London, which is leading the investigation said: “Our thoughts remain with the victims involved and specialist officers continue to provide them with support as their recovery continues.

“We are determined to get justice for the victims and now that a person has been charged, I would urge everyone to avoid any further speculation in relation to this case so that justice can run its course.”

The Independent’s political reporter Athena Stavrou reports:

Metropolitan police commissioner has said Jewish communities are “under threat” in the capital, after the UK terrorism threat level was raised to “severe”.

Sir Mark Rowley said police are dealing with “the symptoms of a disease” of antisemitism, which he said has been “building over many years”.

Asked if the Jewish community is currently under attack, Sir Mark told LBC: “They’re certainly under threat, absolutely. The sustained series of arsons we’ve seen, and then this horrific attack on Wednesday, awful for the victims and their families. It’s very much targeted at Jewish communities.”

He added: “I think we have to recognise that what police are dealing with and what we’re trying to protect communities against, [is] the symptoms of a of a disease, of a pandemic perhaps, of antisemitism, which has been building over many years.”

A 45-year-old man, Essa Suleiman, has been charged attempted murder after a knife attack in Golders Green, north London, which left two men injured and has been declared a terrorist incident.

He also faces charges linked to a separate stabbing the same day and possession of a weapon.

In response, the UK has raised its terror threat level to “severe,” meaning an attack is considered highly likely, with officials urging the public to “be alert, but not alarmed”.

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Police are to review whether marches will go ahead in the coming weeks after the UK terrorism threat level was raised to “severe”.

The Stop the War Coalition is planning a major demonstration in London on 16 May to mark Nakba Day, commemorating the 1948 displacement of Palestinians during the creation of Israel.

Asked about marches due to take place in the coming weeks, head of Counter Terrorism Policing Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor said: “As part of our review into the change in the threat level, policing will be reviewing all events across the country.

“My teams will be working with forces to ensure that we have appropriate protective security measures in place, that the appropriate mitigations are put in place, and we will be engaged with communities who will be affected by large events, as well as those involved in the events, so that we can keep them safe as they can be.”

Britain’s top police officer says Green Party leader Zack Polanski sharing a post about the arrest of the Golders Green terror suspect will have a “chilling effect”.

Mr Polanski retweeted an X post accusing officers of “repeatedly and violently kicking a mentally ill man in the head” when he was already incapacitated from being Tasered.

But Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley told Mr Polanski in a letter that he was disappointed, adding that the post was “inaccurate and misinformed”.

Sir Mark said the officers were “nothing short of extraordinary”, saying: “Without their efforts to stop him, I dread to think what the outcome could have been.”

He added: “London’s Jewish communities are scared.

“They have experienced a series of targeted attacks on the community, and they expect our officers to act, protect them.

“That is exactly what our officers did yesterday. Your decision to criticise these officers, using your public profile and reach will have a chilling effect.”

A Green party spokesperson: “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.”