Golders Green stabbing suspect ‘has history of violence’, says police chief as terror incident declared

WorldPolitics
29 Apr 2026 • 11:37 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

Golders Green stabbing suspect ‘has history of violence’, says police chief as terror incident declared

  • A suspected terrorist with a history of serious violence and mental health problems stabbed two Jewish men in Golders Green, north London, in what has been formally declared a terrorist incident.
  • Two police officers confronted the 45-year-old knifeman, who they believed had a bomb, and used a Taser to detain him, with their actions praised as "nothing short of extraordinary" by Sir Mark Rowley, Britain’s most senior police officer.
  • The two victims, aged 76 and 34, are currently in a stable condition in hospital following the attack, which occurred around 11.15am on Wednesday.
  • Jewish leaders, including Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis, have called for meaningful action against antisemitic violence, stating that condemnation alone is no longer sufficient, a sentiment echoed by the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
  • The incident follows a series of alleged attacks on Jewish sites in London and Manchester in recent months, prompting Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood to pledge government action and a Cobra meeting to address the safety of Jewish communities.

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