Police have charged a man with attempted murder over two linked stabbing attacks in London, as the UK raises its terror threat level to “severe” amid growing fears over antisemitic violence.
Essa Suleiman, 45, a British national originally from Somalia, faces two counts of attempted murder and one count of possession of a bladed article in a public place over the attack in Golders Green that left two Jewish men seriously injured.
He is also charged with a further count of attempted murder over a separate incident earlier the same day on Great Dover Street in south London, where a man suffered minor injuries. Police say the link emerged during their investigation into the north London attack.
The suspect had previously been referred to the government’s Prevent programme in 2020, though the case was later closed.
Eyewitnesses reported a man chasing members of the Jewish community before being detained by volunteers from the Shomrim neighbourhood watch group.
One of the victims, 34-year-old Shloime Rand, has now been discharged from hospital after suffering stab wounds to the chest. He described his survival as “a very big miracle,” adding: “I feel like God’s given me back my life.”
The second victim, 76-year-old Moshe Shine, remains in hospital in a stable condition.
The attack—condemned by Prime Minister Keir Starmer as “utterly appalling”—is the latest in a string of incidents targeting Jewish communities, including recent arson attacks on synagogues and community facilities.
Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis warned that Britain is witnessing a “normalisation of antisemitism” and called for action that goes beyond “treating the symptoms,” while Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley acknowledged a “rising tide” of hostility that has built up over years.
Polanski Sparks Row Over Police Handling of Suspect
The case has also triggered a widening political row. Rowley accused Green Party deputy leader Zack Polanski of “inflaming tensions” after he amplified claims that officers used excessive force during the suspect’s arrest.
In a direct rebuke, the Met chief described the criticism as “inaccurate and misinformed,” warning it risked undermining officers confronting “violent and dangerous criminals” and could have a “chilling effect” on those protecting Jewish communities. Police took the unusual step of releasing body-worn camera footage showing the suspect approaching officers with a knife before being subdued with a Taser.
The intervention drew a sharp political backlash, with figures across the spectrum accusing Polanski of siding against police at a time of heightened threat, while he in turn claimed the issue was being used as a “political football” and warned against curbs on protest rights.
In response to the escalating threat, the UK has raised its national terror threat level from “substantial” to “severe”, meaning an attack is considered highly likely, though officials said the decision reflects a broader trend and is not solely linked to this week’s stabbings.
