The UK’s terror threat level has been increased to “severe” after the stabbing of two Jewish men in an alleged terrorist attack in Golders Green.
Home secretary Shabana Mahmood said the raising of the threat level meant the possibility of an attack was “highly likely”.
The suspect in the attack was on Thursday named as Essa Suleiman. The 45-year-old, who is being held in connection with Wednesday’s north London attack, was in 2020 referred to the government’s counter-terror programme.
Suleiman is a British national born in Somalia who had a “history of serious violence and mental health issues”, police say.
Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer said in a Downing Street address that the government was open to learning lessons about Prevent.
Protesters heckled Sir Keir as he arrived in and left Golders Green to meet first responders and community leaders. Dozens of people chanted offensive slogans.
The government has come in for fierce criticism over its response to antisemitic attacks from critics who say not enough has been done to protect the Jewish community. Jewish leaders warn antisemitism is becoming normalised.
Read MoreGovernment announces £25m funding for Jewish community security after Golders Green attack
Starmer told to tackle ‘pandemic’ of antisemitism after two Jewish men stabbed in terror attack
Dramatic bodycam shows moment police taser Golders Green terror attack suspect
Key Points
- Terror threat level raised to ‘severe’
- Police set to review marches across UK
- Suspect had previously been reported to Prevent counter-extremism programme
- We may learn lessons from this about Prevent, Starmer admits
- Rabbi had to tell pupils about London attack during Auschwitz trip
- Met Police refer themselves to watchdog over arrest
Opinion: Being Jewish in Britain means living in a security ghetto
22:00 , Jane Dalton
Being Jewish in Britain means living in a security ghetto
Met chief warns Greens' Polanski of 'chilling effect' of arrest post
21:25 , Jane DaltonBritain’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.”
Antisemitism campaigners call for timeline for action from Starmer
20:50 , Jane DaltonThe Campaign Against Antisemitism says words are no longer enough and called for a “timeline for action” following Sir Keir Starmer’s announcement of a crackdown on antisemitism.
A spokesperson said: “This is the second time since October 2023 that an embattled prime minister has belatedly given a strong speech on antisemitism that finally says what we’ve been saying all along but comes with no timeline for action.
“Words are no longer enough. Everything that the prime minister has said this afternoon could have been enacted over the past two years of this premiership, and he has only said them now because more Jews have been injured and we announced a rally outside Downing Street calling for a plan.
”We are fed up of words: we need action – and the prime minister still gave no sense of timeline of when that action will be forthcoming. This is a national emergency. Where is the urgency?”
The campaign says the situation is a national emergency.
This is a National Emergency.
— Campaign Against Antisemitism (@antisemitism) April 29, 2026
We need to dispense with the political platitudes. Prime Minister, what is your plan?
Six months ago we stood outside Downing Street after the fatal terrorist attack Heaton Park Synagogue.
Things have only got worse. More Jews attacked. Synagogues… pic.twitter.com/rNJ30Qt9Bm
In pictures: Demonstrators at Downing Street
20:23 , Jane Dalton
Protesters accuse ministers of appeasing fanatical hatred
20:08 , Jane DaltonDozens of protesters gathered outside Downing Street to demand that the prime minister tackle antisemitism.
The Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA) organised the rally after two Jews were stabbed in Golders Green on Wednesday.
Stephen Silverman, the CAA’s director of investigations and enforcement, told protesters in Whitehall, some of whom held Israeli flags: “We have seen no meaningful action which has consequences playing out before our eyes.
“This government has appeased this fanatical hatred. They gaslit us.
“Patriotic British Jews now worry about their safety each and every day and question their future in this country.
“Prime minister, how are you going to deal with this? Prime minister, what is your plan?”
Anti-terror unit Prevent that attack suspect was referred to
19:59 , Jane Dalton
What is Prevent? The anti-terror unit that Golders Green suspect was referred to
Police set to review 'all marches' across UK
19:50 , Jane DaltonHead of counter-terrorism policing Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor said police would be reviewing all marches across the UK after the UK terrorism threat level was raised to severe.
He 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.”
Threat to UK Jewish and Israeli people and institutions raised, police chief warns
19:47 , Jane DaltonThe Metropolitan Police have seen an “elevated threat to Jewish and Israeli individuals and institutions in the UK”, according to head of counter-terrorism policing, Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor.
He said: “Our casework is increasing across a number of ideologies, and within that, we are seeing an elevated threat to Jewish and Israeli individuals and institutions in the UK.
“We’re also working against an unpredictable global situation that has consequences closer to home, including physical threats by state-linked actors.”
The senior officer said there would be an enhanced police response in place across the country.
Officers will be “deploying unpredictably, which means sometimes you will see them and sometimes you won’t, but please know we are with you,” he added.
Women walk in solidarity with Jewish community
19:45 , Jane DaltonAround 100 women of different faiths have gathered in Golders Green to “walk in solidarity” in support of the Jewish community.
The inter-faith walk begun at Golders Green station on Thursday evening and will finish where the incidents happened along Golders Green Road.
Organisers Julie Siddiqi and Lyndsey Simmons said: “An attack on one part of our community is an attack on us all.
“We are walking today to show our support for the Jewish community in this country and to stand together against hatred and division.”
Speaking to women on the walk, Ms Siddiqi added: “It’s very powerful that we’re here as women.
“There was something very important for us to come together as women.”
In pictures: Fire erupts near synagogue
19:25 , Jane Dalton
Met Police refer themselves to watchdog over arrest
19:12 , Jane DaltonThe Metropolitan Police have referred themselves to the police complaints watchdog over the arrest of the suspect.
A spokesperson for the Independent Office for Police Conduct said: “We received a mandatory referral from the Met this afternoon, which relates to injuries reportedly sustained by the man who was arrested following yesterday’s attacks in Golders Green.
“The man was taken to hospital and discharged the same day. We are assessing the referral to decide what further action may be required.”
Green Party leader Zack Polanski and others have accused officers of using excessive force during the arrest.
Fire engulfs house near London synagogue
19:01 , Jane DaltonDozens of firefighters are battling a large blaze engulfing a house near a synagogue in northwest London.
Fifteen fire engines and around 100 firefighters went to tackle the inferno in Cazenove Road, Stamford Hill, at 4.14pm today.
Officials warned it could take several hours to bring the fire under control.
Volunteers from Shomrim, the Jewish neighbourhood watch organisation, have been helping officers from Hackney police with road closures in the area.
Crowds gathered to watch the fire.
Watch: Starmer says government must be open to learning lessons on Prevent
18:30 , Jane DaltonUK was last at severe terror threat in November 2021
18:29 , Daniel KeaneThe UK was last at severe in November 2021, following the Liverpool Women’s Hospital bombing and murder of Sir David Amess.
It was then lowered to substantial in February 2022.
Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, said: "Today, the national threat level has increased to "severe", which means a terrorist attack is considered highly likely.
"I know this will be a source of concern to many, particularly amongst our Jewish community, who have suffered so much.
"The Government has today announced a significant increase in investment to protect our Jewish communities, with record funding for policing and security at synagogues, schools and community centres. And we will do everything in our power to rid society of the evil of antisemitism.
Stop the War warns of 'agenda to limit protesters' rights'
18:05 , Jane DaltonStop the War has suggested calls for a halt to its marches “appear to be part of a wider agenda to clamp down on protest more generally, and to limit our rights”.
The group said it condemned unequivocally the Golders Green attacks, “as we do all forms of antisemitism and racism”, adding: “No-one should be attacked for their race or religion.”
At the scene in Golders Green on Wednesday, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mark Rowley said debate about international affairs should not be allowed to justify antisemitism.
He said: “Legitimate concern or debate about international affairs must never be allowed to be used to legitimise antisemitism or violence against Jewish people here in Britain.
“When that line is blurred, attacks become more likely.”
Terror threat level raised to ‘severe’ after Golders Green attack
18:05 , Daniel KeaneThe UK terrorism threat level has been raised to “severe” in the wake of the Golders Green stabbings, meaning a terror attack is “highly likely”.
The Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre announced the decision on Thursday, the day after two Jewish men were stabbed in north London and in the wake of a spate of attacks in Jewish neighbourhoods in recent weeks.
The body, which is based in MI5 but makes independent assessments, previously set the threat level at “substantial”, meaning an attack was “likely”.
Farage accuses government of weakness
17:45 , Jane DaltonReform UK leader Nigel Farage, who visited the attack scene at Golders Green, accused the government of having been weak on antisemitism.
He said: “I’m afraid we have allowed marches to take place, with chants being heard over the streets of London and other cities.
“We’ve not acted and the government has been weak, weak, weak on all of this.
“I’m not pretending we can reverse this tide of hatred overnight. We can’t. It’s here. It’s embedded.”
In pictures: Demonstrators in Golders Green
17:20 , Jane Dalton
Suspect Essa Suleiman was referred to counterterror programme: full report
17:17 , Jane Dalton
Golders Green attack suspect named as it’s revealed he was referred to Prevent scheme
Rabbi had to tell pupils on Auschwitz trip about London attack
17:03 , Jane DaltonA London rabbi was taking a group of Jewish children on a school trip to Auschwitz on Wednesday when he heard news of the Golders Green stabbings.
Rabbi Doron Birnbaum, 35, from Hendon, told The Independent: “As we were in the latrines - a barrack where they used to allow women to go to the toilet, if you can call it that, and if ever they were allowed to go - my phone pings.
“I looked at my phone, and there are two Jews who have been stabbed in Golders Green for no other crime other than being a Jew.”
Rabbi Birnbaum, who has worked with Jewish schools in northwest London for more than a decade, messaged his family’s WhatsApp group to ensure they were safe.
“That is what Jews do. And it's around the world. That's what we have to do”, he said.
“I then had to take a group of 40 teenagers who were on a trip to Auschwitz, sit them outside the gas chambers on the grass, to tell them what's happened in Golders Green and ask them to check in on their parents to see if they're okay.
“That is astonishing and people need to see that there is a connection there.”
Pro-Palestine activists deny marches incubate antisemitism
16:55 , Jane DaltonPro-Palestine campaigners have hit back at suggestions their marches incubate antisemitism and should be banned.
The Stop the War Coalition, which is planning a major demonstration in London on 16 May, said attempts to link recent “horrific antisemitic attacks” in the capital with marches in solidarity with Palestine were false.
Jonathan Hall, the independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, has said it is currently impossible for such marches not to incubate antisemitism.
Describing recent attacks on Jews as a “massive national security emergency”, he called for a moratorium on pro-Palestinian marches, in comments to Times Radio.
Police step up patrols and stop-and-searches
16:33 , Jane DaltonPolice across the UK have stepped up patrols in response to the double stabbing in which two Jewish men – Shloime Rand, 34, and Moshe Ben Baila, 76, named locally as Moshe Shine – were injured and taken to hospital.
Greater Manchester Police said they had deployed extra officers around the city, with a “high-visibility presence within our Jewish communities in north Manchester, Bury and Salford”.
West Yorkshire Police and Thames Valley Police both said they would increase patrols to provide additional reassurance.
In London, counter-terrorism officers investigating the attack said they were also searching an address in the southeast of the city.
Detective Chief Superintendent Luke Williams, the regional basic command unit commander, and Barnet Council chief executive Cath Shaw said “significant number of officers” would be in the area to support the investigation.
“This gives police officers temporary powers to stop and search people in the area without needing specific suspicion, where there is a risk of serious violence,” they said.
“This is a preventative measure designed to deter further criminality. We were already deploying an increased number of counter-terrorism response vehicles to respond to suspicious activity.”
They said there would be an “increased policing presence in and around schools, transport hubs, high footfall areas and faith venues”.
Starmer declines to apologise to British Jews
16:28 , Jane DaltonThe prime minister declined to apologise to UK Jews following a string of attacks on the community.
Evading a question on whether he should say sorry after one of the victims of the double stabbing in Golders Green said he felt let down by the government, he said: “I absolutely understand the high levels of anxiety and concern that there are, reflected in the various reactions over the last days.”
‘My son was attacked because he’s visibly Jewish - things need to change’
16:25 , Jane Dalton ‘My son was attacked in Golders Green because he’s visibly Jewish’
These attacks keep happening, says PM
16:23 , Jane DaltonEvents like the attack in Golders Green “keep happening”, the prime minister said in his address.
“At moments like this, we often say, this is not Britain, that these attacks are an affront to British values, to British tolerance, British decency. But they keep happening, don’t they?
“And so today, instead, I will simply say that our values are not a gift handed down generation to generation.
“They are something we earn each day through action. They come from us.
“Antisemitism is an old, old hatred, history shows that the roots are deep, and if you turn away, it grows back.
“Yet, far too many people in this country diminish it. They either don’t see it or they don’t want to see it.”
Essa Suleiman was referred to counterterror programme – full report
16:15 , Jane Dalton Golders Green attack suspect named as it’s revealed he was referred to Prevent scheme
Watch: Starmer tells of his ‘determination to act’ after attack
16:08 , Jane DaltonWe may learn lessons from this about Prevent, Starmer admits
16:03 , Jane DaltonSir Keir Starmer has said the government is open to learning lessons about the Prevent anti-terror programme following the Golders Green attack.
Asked by reporters whether Prevent can keep people safe, he said: “The investigation is obviously still ongoing, and so we haven't got all the facts.
“Prevent was reviewed and we made changes after the Southport attack. We need to be open to learning any further lessons that may come out of this investigation, but we're a very early stage at this point.”
Starmer: ‘I call on everyone decent to open their eyes to Jewish pain’
15:58 , Jane DaltonSir Keir Starmer called on all Britons to call out antisemitism in everyday life as he addressed the nation following the Golders Green attack.
Pledging to do “everything in our power to stamp this hatred out”, he warned that although these attacks are an “affront to British values”, these values “are not a gift handed down”.
“I also call on everyone decent in this country to open their eyes to Jewish pain, Jewish suffering and Jewish fear,” he told a press conference.
“I call on everyone to come together and fight antisemitism, and I call on everyone to fight for the decent, respectful, tolerant Britain that I and millions of people love, so that our freedom and our values can still speak loud and true to a community that can no longer take it on faith.”
Starmer warns against marching with people with paraglider images
15:57 , Jane DaltonThe prime minister has warned that anyone openly supporting images encouraging killing Jews is effectively “calling for terrorism”.
And he said those attending pro-Palestine marches standing “alongside people who say ‘globalise the intifada’, was calling for terrorism against Jews”.
“Of course, we protect freedom of speech and peaceful protest in this country, but if you are marching with people wearing pictures of paragliders without calling it out, you are venerating the murder of Jews,” he said in a Downing Street address.
“If you stand alongside people who say ‘globalise the Intifada’, you are calling for terrorism against Jews, and people who use that phrase should be prosecuted.
“It is racism, extreme racism, and it has left a minority community in this country, scared, intimidating, wondering if they belong.”
Starmer declares 'determination to act'
15:53 , Jane DaltonSir Keir Starmer said he expressed his “sadness and solidarity” with the Jewish community and declared his “determination to act”, but admitted the attack “is not a one off”.
“And so people are scared, scared to show who they are in their community, scared to go to synagogue and practice their religion, scared to go to university as a Jew, to send their children to school as a Jew, to tell their colleagues that they are Jewish, even to use our NHS,” he said.
Starmer promises strong crackdown on Jewish attacks
15:52 , Jane DaltonSir Keir Starmer has pledged a series of steps to crack down on terror attacks on the Jewish community.
In a live broadcast he said: “We will strengthen the visible police presence in our Jewish communities. We will increase our investment in those Jewish security services.
“We will introduce much stronger powers to shut down charities that promote anti semitic extremism.
“We will prevent hate preachers from entering our country, our campuses, our streets, our communities. [We will] work with our justice system to speed up sentencing on antisemitic attacks, so there is a stronger deterrence factor, as we do with riots.
“And we need stronger powers to tackle the malign threat posed by states like Iran, because we know for a fact that they want to harm British Jews, which is why we will fast track the necessary legislation.”
Starmer addresses nation
15:48 , Jane DaltonPrime minister Sir Keir Starmer is addressing the nation from Downing Street with an update on the Government’s response to the Golders Green terrorist attack.
Watch: Starmer meets first responders
15:30 , Jane DaltonSuspect named as 45-year-old Essa Suleiman
15:28 , Jane DaltonBreaking news: The suspect in the double stabbing has been identified as Essa Suleiman.
The 45-year-old was previously referred to the government's counter-terror programme
Attack could have been much worse, Starmer tells volunteers
15:19 , Jane DaltonThe prime minister told volunteers at a Jewish community ambulance centre in Golders Green how much he appreciated their response to the suspected terror attack.
Sir Keir Starmer told the Hatzola Northwest group the attacks could have been a lot worse if it had not been for the work of the emergency personnel.
He said he felt it was really important for him to come to Golders Green the day after the attack.
As the Prime Minister left the compound he was heckled by protesters organised by Stop the Hate, with one shouting that Sir Keir was a “traitor”.
You belong in UK, Starmer tells Jewish people
15:13 , Jane DaltonSir Keir Starmer told Jewish people on social media they belonged in the UK after visiting Golders Green.
The Prime Minister posted: “Yesterday’s terror attack wasn’t an isolated incident, it was the latest attack on the Jewish community for being Jewish.
“Today I spoke with volunteers, first responders from Shomrim and Hatzola to thank them for their bravery.
“I know that this is a deeply worrying time for the whole community.
“My Government is taking immediate action.
“We’ve increased enhanced funding for police patrols and protective security and we’re fast-tracking legislation to deal with malign state actors.
“My message to Jewish people is this: you belong here, and we will do everything we can to keep you safe.”
Green Party candidate and another woman arrested on suspicion of stirring up racial hatred online
15:00 , Jane DaltonPolice have arrested two women, aged 57 and 54, on suspicion of stirring up racial hatred online.
One of them is a Green Party election candidate, it’s been confirmed.
The Metropolitan Police say the arrests follow an investigation launched after concerns were reported to police on 21 April about antisemitic material posted online.
The women are in police custody.
In pictures: Starmer and Mahmood meet Jewish leaders
14:44 , Jane Dalton
Starmer heckled for second time as he leaves
14:25 , Jane DaltonDemonstrators at a protest organised by Stop the Hate heckled Sir Keir Starmer’s security convoy as it left a Jewish community ambulance centre.
One protester, who said he was Matthew, 62, from north London, said: “I’m coming to stand with my community and protest against the endless platitudes that are offered up after every incident.
“I’m tired of Cobra meetings. I want to see action,” he said.
Jenny, who declined to give her surname, said the Jewish community was angry and fed up with the Prime Minister.
“We want an end to the hate marches, to the calls of global intifada, to the calls of revolution,” she added.
Another protester named Levi, who was holding a banner with the slogan “Keir Starmer Jew Harmer”, said: “We are here today because Keir Starmer has come to the Jewish community but instead of looking to speak to us, he went instead behind the gates.”
UK could ban Iranian military IRGC group, home secretary hints
14:15 , Jane DaltonThe home secretary has signalled she will consider banning the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), an Iranian military group.
Ministers say new laws cracking down on people and organisations acting on behalf of “malign state-sponsored groups” will also be fast-tracked in the coming weeks.
Shabana Mahmood said she would be looking at “all organisations that would then fall within the purview” of the legislation.
“Just to reassure you, the only reason I’m not giving a wider commentary on who this will include is because we would never give any commentary on organisations that we are considering for either our proscription regime … or indeed, this new regime,” she told Sky News.
“I expect to be making decisions in the very near future about the groups that we will be designating as state-linked.”
PM and home secretary discuss attack with Jewish leaders
14:11 , Jane DaltonSir Keir Starmer held a roundtable with first responders and leaders from the Hatzola ambulance service as well as Shomrim, a volunteer Jewish security group.
He was joined by home secretary Shabana Mahmood and Sarah Sackman, MP for Finchley and Golders Green, as well Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley.
Speaking to one of the volunteers, Ms Mahmood said: “Keeping the community safe, running to towards risk is sadly necessary.”
A timeline of recent attacks on the UK’s Jewish community as man arrested over Golders Green stabbing
14:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneThe Commonwealth’s chief rabbi and Israel’s foreign ministry are calling for action after a series of incidents targeting the Jewish community in the UK.
Sir Ephraim Mirvis said “words of condemnation are no longer sufficient” after two Jewish men were stabbed in London’s Golders Green on Wednesday.
The Israeli foreign ministry, meanwhile, said the recent spate of attacks on Jewish areas means “the UK Government can no longer claim this is under control”.
A man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder over the Golders Green stabbings and counterterror police have launched an investigation.
Here is a look at the attacks on Jewish sites in the UK in the past months:
Golders Green stabbings: What happened and who is the suspect?
Watch: Starmer heckled at Golders Green
13:38 , Jane DaltonWatch: How Golders Green terrorist attack unfolded
13:30 , Nicole Wootton-CaneStarmer heckled in Golders Green
13:18 , Jane DaltonDemonstrators heckled the prime minister as he arrived at a Jewish community ambulance centre in Golders Green.
A group of around 100 people could be heard chanting “Keir Starmer, Jew harmer” and held posters with the same slogan.
They also chanted “Keir Starmer is a traitor” as well as “show your face”.
Sir Keir was due to meet first responders from Hatzola Northwest, a volunteer group whose ambulances were targeted in an arson attack last month.
Zack Polanski accuses ‘authoritarian’ Labour of ‘using Jewish pain’ to consider ban on marches
13:15 , Nicole Wootton-CaneZack Polanski has accused Labour of “using Jewish pain” to justify an “authoritarian” agenda in considering banning pro-Palestinian marches after the Golders Green attack.
The Green Party leader, who is the only current Jewish leader of a major political party in the UK, hit out at home secretary Shabana Mahmood as she hinted at using new powers for a crackdown on marches protesting against Israel.
There are growing calls for tougher action against antisemitism, including from Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis, in the wake of the attack.
The Independent’s political editor David Maddox reports:
Polanski accuses ‘authoritarian’ Labour of ‘using Jewish pain’ to ban marches
'My son was targeted because of how he was dressed,' victim's dad says
13:10 , Nicole Wootton-CaneDan Haygarth reports from Golders Green:
The father of one of the victims of the double stabbing in Golders Green has said his son was “obviously targeted” because of how he was dressed.
Speaking to The Independent, Shloime Rand’s father urged Sir Keir Starmer to take action, saying “it could be this one story” that will change things for Jewish communities in the UK.
“It's obvious [that he was targeted because of how he was dressed], because [the suspect] was targeting... he was going through a lot of people and he only targeted three,” Mr Rand’s father, who did not give his name, said.
“All the three he targeted were Jewish people. So obviously he knew who he was going for and but didn't know who they are [personally], so it's just obviously, that's why he went for those [their clothes].
He described his son as a “good fellow” and said it happened because “he was dressed the way he was dressed and because he is a Jew”.
Asked what the government could do to tackle antisemitism he said: “I think he [Keir Starmer] can help, but I don't know if he will help because he already spoke quite a lot of times in the last few years and hasn't done anything.
“So I'm sure he can, yeah, obviously he can. The prime minister, I hope he can. If he will, well, until today he hasn't shown anything. So it could be this one story will change the matter, it could be, we don't know.”
Golders Green stabbings: What happened and who is the suspect?
13:00 , Nicole Wootton-CanePolice declared a terrorist incident after two Jewish men were stabbed on a street in Golders Green in north London.
Shloime Rand, 34, and Moshe Shine, 76, have been named as the two victims in the attack, which took place on Wednesday morning.
A 45-year-old man, identified as a British national who was born in Somalia, is in custody after he was tasered by police. His name has not yet been released.
You can read all you need to know below:
Golders Green stabbings: What happened and who is the suspect?
In pictures: Protesters rally against Starmer at scene of stabbing
12:50 , Nicole Wootton-Cane
Suspect was referred to Prevent in 2020, Met Police confirm
12:45 , Nicole Wootton-CaneIn a statement, the Metropolitan Police said the suspect in the double stabbing attack in Golders Green was referred to the government’s Prevent counter-extremism programme in 2020.
The Met said: “We can confirm the suspect was known to the Prevent programme and was subject to a Prevent referral in 2020, which was closed in the same year.
“Given the investigation remains ongoing, we will not be providing any further information in respect of this matter at this time and we remain focused on securing justice for the victims of this attack.”
Govt must take tougher action on pro-Palestine marches, Farage says
12:15 , Nicole Wootton-CaneNigel Farage also called on the prime minister to take tougher action on pro-Palestine marches.
Speaking to reporters in Golders Green on Thursday, the Reform UK leader said: “I’m afraid we have allowed marches to take place, with chants being heard over the streets of London and other cities.
“We’ve not acted and the government has been weak, weak, weak on all of this.
“I’m not pretending we can reverse this tide of hatred overnight. We can’t. It’s here. It’s embedded.”
Farage meets Holocaust survivor at Golders Green
11:35 , Nicole Wootton-CaneNigel Farage met Holocaust survivor Susan Pollack, 95, who was interned in Auschwitz-Birkenau during the Second World War.
Asked about her thoughts on Wednesday’s stabbing after meeting the Reform UK leader in Golders Green on Thursday, Ms Pollack told the Press Association: “Well, I was extremely confused.
“I said, did they get the right information here in Britain, a peaceful country?
“I’ve been living here for many, many years, and I’ve made a huge… contribution to keep it safe.”
New law to ban state-backed groups reportedly will be included in King's Speech
11:28 , Nicole Wootton-CaneA new law promised by the government to ban state-backed groups will be fast-tracked and appear in the King’s Speech, it has been reported.
The plans are now understood to have been moved forward so they can be part of the speech on 13 May, according to Sky News.
It comes after the government said legislation will be fast-tracked in the coming weeks to target those acting on behalf of state-sponsored groups.
Justice system must respond in 'swift, agile and visible way', PM says
11:10 , Nicole Wootton-CanePrime minister Sir Keir Starmer said the criminal justice system must respond to the suspected terrorist attack in Golders Green in “a swift, agile and visible way”, as he convened a meeting in Downing Street.
He added there was a “duty” on government and criminal justice agencies to quickly respond to the “appalling attacks”.
“Today is about part of the response which is really important, which is the criminal justice response, because a number of people have been arrested, a number of them go through the criminal justice system, and it’s really important that we are able collectively to demonstrate that the response will be swift and visible,” he told reporters.
He continued: “I do think there’s a wider duty on all of us in terms of confidence in the criminal justice system to be able to deal with appalling attacks like this, to show that it can act in a swift, agile and visible way.
“And I look forward to a discussion with you as to how we make that happen.”
Attendees included Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy, Attorney General Lord Richard Hermer, security minister Dan Jarvis, and Sarah Sackman, the justice minister who is Finchley and Golders Green MP.
Jewish communities feeling like just before Holocaust, senior figure says
10:15 , Nicole Wootton-CaneJewish people are experiencing something similar to what they felt just before the Holocaust following recent attacks, a Jewish Council of Scotland (JCoS) member has said.
She told BBC Radio Scotland Breakfast: “We’re concerned about walking the streets. Most of the people I know are not wearing any visible identity related to being Jewish. I know that some of the young men are not wearing their skull caps.
“I know many women are now hiding the Star of David, and it is very concerning. I’m also the chairman of a synagogue, and we’re quite concerned for our building and for what could happen in our neighbourhood.”
She added: “We’re afraid of physical violence, and we need to ensure that we can step up the security at any event, so we’re not publicising where many events are being held, and we’re doing things more privately than we were in the past.”
Dr Siegel said that antisemitism seems to be more prevalent now and compared it to the situation before the start of the Holocaust.
She said: “People should be allowed to practice their religion and to be the way they need to be in the way they want to be, freely, without concern.
“This is similar to what people felt just before the Holocaust.”
‘I wasn’t thinking when I tackled the Golders Green knifeman – I just knew I had to act’
10:05 , Nicole Wootton-CaneYonathan Elkouby “didn’t think twice” and dropped everything to tackle the knifeman in Golders Green when his radio alerted him to the incident.
The 33-year-old has volunteered for Shomrim, a Jewish organisation that helps protect people from crime, for five years, and saidit isn’t the first time he has had a “knife in his face” amid a growing number of anti-semitic incidents.
The father-of-five, who was born and raised in Golders Green, always has his on-call radio with him so he can be there for his community.
Mr Elkouby recounted the incident to the Telegraph and said he leapt into his car as soon as the alert came through, but at the time, he wasn’t aware the attacker had stabbed people.
You can read the full report below:
‘I wasn’t thinking when I tackled Golders Green knifeman – I just knew I had to act’
