Two Jewish men are ‘seriously injured’ after being stabbed near a north London synagogue by a knifeman ‘who was trying to attack Jews’.
The man was seen running along Golders Green Road armed with a knife and ‘attempting to stab Jewish members of the public’, security group Shomrim said.
He was detained by Shomrim volunteers before police officers Tasered and arrested him, according to the group – which provides patrols in ultra-Orthodox Haredi areas.
One man was stabbed outside a synagogue and a second outside a shop, with footage showing at least one of them receiving CPR at the scene.
The incident – which comes after a series of arson attacks on four Jewish community ambulances, two synagogues and a memorial wall – was described as ‘deeply concerning’ by Sir Keir Starmer.
One witness, who gave their name as Shlomoh, told the Daily Mail: ‘I arrived at the scene and the road was still open.
‘There were two police officers and a Shomrim member Tasering and hitting the suspect.
‘Members of the public came out and helped detain him and within the space of a minute and a half there was a lot of police and the road was cordoned off within five minutes.’
The scene in Golders Green today, where two Jewish men were stabbed
Video has been circulating that allegedly shows the suspect being arrested
A photo of the scene today, with an ambulance parked on the road alongside several police cars
Jewish charity the Community Security Trust said: ‘There has been a knife attack today in Golders Green. The suspect has been arrested.
‘We would like to thank @shomrimlondon, @Hatzola and @metpoliceuk for their swift response.
‘We are working closely with the police and urge anyone with information to contact the police, Shomrim and CST immediately.’
Shadow home secretary Chris Philp described today’s stabbing as ‘yet another appalling antisemitic attack’.
‘The Jewish community are not being properly protected from this hate,’ he wrote on X.
‘We have seen Iran sponsoring antisemitic attacks and Islamist extremism run rampant. The Government must urgently step up tangible actions against antisemitism, Iran and Islamist extremism.’
Police are currently investigating an arson attack on a memorial wall just streets away from today’s incident.
The memorial wall is a tribute to thousands of protesters killed in a crackdown in Iran in January and is near a Jewish centre.
A section of the wall is dedicated to those killed in the Hamas attack on the Nova music festival in Israel in 2023, while a more recent statement of solidarity for the Jewish community in the wake of recent attacks has been attached to a nearby tree.
Police were called to reports of a fire there at 7.28pm on Monday and the investigation is now being led by Counter Terror Policing, Scotland Yard has said.
Shadow home secretary Chris Philp described today’s stabbing as ‘yet another appalling antisemitic attack’
The memorial wall itself was not damaged – although there are scorch marks at a desk – but it has been sealed off.
Golders Green Road is approximately five minutes away from where four Jewish ambulances were firebombed last month in another shocking attack.
The Board of Deputies of British Jews added: ‘We are aware of a reported stabbing incident in Golders Green, with two injured. The police have apprehended a suspect.
‘We are liaising with the CST, Government and police to understand what has happened and ensure a forceful response.’
Yesterday counter-terror police revealed they had arrested a suspect close to an isolated Devon market town over a series of attacks on the Jewish community in London.
A 37-year-old man was held by the Met Police on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts at an address close to Barnstaple on Sunday night.
He has been taken 210 miles to London for questioning. He has been bailed.
The suspect, who has not been named, is the 26th person to be arrested since the firebombing of Jewish community ambulances in Golders Green, two synagogues in north-west London and the former premises of a Jewish charity.
There were also jars containing a powdered substance left in Kensington Gardens close to the Israeli Embassy – as well as a drone incursion – and an attack on a Persian-language media organisation opposed to the Iranian regime in the capital in recent weeks.
Pro-Iranian group Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia – the Islamic Movement of the Companions of the Right – has claimed responsibility for the attacks.
There have been arson attacks on Jewish community ambulances in Golders Green, north-west London, a synagogue and a former Jewish charity, as well as an incident where a drone was flown near the Israeli embassy.
The Golders Green firebombing caused gas canisters stored in the ambulances to explode, with the force from the blast causing windows to break in a block of flats close by.
The synagogue, one of Europe’s oldest, had its roof damaged and stained glass windows smashed in the fire. There were no injuries.
Counter-terror police have been looking into the possible involvement of Iranian proxies.
Premises linked to people opposing the Iranian regime have also been targeted, the Met said last week.
An attempted arson attack was also carried out on April 15 at Finchley Reform Synagogue, and at about 8.30pm outside the offices of a Persian media company, both in north-west London.
On Tuesday, a 17-year-old boy pleaded guilty at Westminster Magistrates’ Court to arson not endangering life following the attack on Kenton United Synagogue.
