London stabbing of 2 Jewish men declared terrorist attack

London Golders Green Stabbing Declared Terrorist Incident

Two Jewish men were stabbed on the streets of north London on Wednesday morning in what police have formally declared a terrorist incident, marking the latest in a series of antisemitic attacks to strike the capital’s Jewish community.

The attack occurred at approximately 11:16 a.m. on Highfield Avenue in Barnet, near Golders Green, a neighborhood home to one of London’s largest Jewish populations. The victims, aged 76 and 34, suffered knife wounds and were taken to hospital, where they are reported to be in stable condition.abc3340

Suspect Detained by Community Volunteers

Shomrim, a Jewish volunteer neighborhood watch group, said the suspect “was seen running along Golders Green Road armed with a knife and attempting to stab Jewish members of the public”. Members of the group responded immediately and detained the man before police arrived. Metropolitan Police officers who responded were also attacked by the suspect before he was subdued with a Taser and arrested on suspicion of attempted murder. No officers were injured.nytimes

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said the 45-year-old suspect has “a history of serious violence and mental health issues,” and that inquiries into his background and motives are ongoing. CCTV footage showed a man in a white t-shirt and dark jacket approaching an elderly victim wearing a kippah near a bus stop before suddenly brandishing a knife.news

Counter Terrorism Investigation Underway

Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, head of Counter Terrorism Policing, confirmed the terrorist declaration in a statement, saying investigators are working with security services “to ensure we have a full intelligence picture”. “One of the lines of enquiry is whether this attack was deliberately targeting the Jewish community in London,” Taylor said.police

Investigators are also probing whether the stabbing is linked to a string of recent arson attacks on synagogues and Jewish sites across London. An Iran-linked group calling itself Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia, or HAYI, claimed responsibility for the stabbing, as it had previously claimed an arson attack on four Jewish ambulances in Golders Green in March. Experts have noted the group’s branding resembles that of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, though British security sources have cautioned against premature attribution.wikipedia

Political Response

Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the “utterly appalling” attack and convened an emergency COBRA meeting. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the government would “exert every effort” to protect the Jewish community. Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis called for “substantial action,” saying “mere words of condemnation are no longer adequate”.gbnews

The stabbing follows weeks of escalating attacks against Jewish targets in the capital, including arson incidents at synagogues and community buildings, prompting what Taylor described as a nationwide mobilization of police to “provide additional support and reassurance” to Jewish communities.police