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Police declare Golders Green stabbing a terrorist incident
Police have said the stabbing of two men in north London is being treated as a terrorist incident, with officers investigating whether the attack deliberately targeted the Jewish community.
Speaking outside Scotland Yard on Wednesday, head of counter terrorism olicing Laurence Taylor confirmed that the stabbing has been formally declared to be terrorism.
He said:
This has now formally been declared a terrorist incident. Our highly specialised teams of officers are working with the Metropolitan Police to progress this investigation quickly and establish exactly what has happened.
We’re also working with our partners in the security services to ensure we have a full intelligence picture, and one of the lines of inquiry is whether this attack was deliberately targeting the Jewish community in London.
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Vikram Dodd
Detectives are looking at what ideology drove the suspect and are also examining his mental health history.
The stabbings in Golders Green follow a terrorist attack on Heaton Park synagogue in Manchester last year where two people died, with the attacker shot dead by police. In that case the attacker claimed he carried out the atrocity for Islamic State.
Islamic State and al-Qaeda propaganda have recently called for attacks on Jewish people and targets. A series of attacks since March, first in Europe and then in London against Jewish targets, are suspected of being carried out by criminal proxies at the behest of Iran.
The King is being kept fully informed and is “deeply concerned” after the terrorist attack on two Jewish men in Golders Green, and his “thoughts and prayers” are with the victims, Buckingham Palace has said.
King Charles and Queen Camilla are currently undertaking a four-day visit to the United States.
“His Majesty is being kept fully informed and is naturally deeply concerned, in particular about the impact for the Jewish community,” the palace said.
“His thoughts and prayers are with the two individuals who were injured and offers his heartfelt gratitude to those who so selflessly rushed to their aid.”
Mark Rowley said anti-semitism is being fuelled by “hostile states, the extreme right and the extreme left” who are given space to operate because of “weak” civil debate.
The Metropolitan Police commissioner said:
This is an attack on one community, an attack on one community is an attack on all London’s communities. This was an attack on Londoners. It is an attack on British Jews.
Too many Jewish people in this country feel they have to make choices that no other Briton ever has to make. They have to make choices about how they dress, where they go, or how visibly they live their lives. That’s completely unacceptable and has gone on for far too long.
We also need to be honest about the nature of the threat. Antisemitism is fuelled by hateful and extremist ideologies. It comes from hostile states, the extreme right, and the extreme left.
He added:
These are terrorists and hateful belief systems, but they’re all rooted in racism. They’re given space to operate when civic debate is weak, when hatred is excused, and when people are unwilling to challenge it directly, I also believe now is the time to ask some difficult questions.
Why don’t we see more condemnation of the attacks we’ve seen in recent weeks? Where are all the voices against hate? And where is the solidarity with fellow Londoners who are being targeted simply for who they are? Legitimate debate about international affairs should never be allowed to legitimise antisemitism or violence against British Jews here on the streets of London.
When that line is blurred, attacks become more likely. Let me be clear, we’ve seen a rise in racist and antisemitic hate crime. And whilst I can’t comment on live investigations, we know that some individuals are being encouraged, persuaded or paid to commit acts of violence on behalf of foreign organisations and hostile states.
Knifeman had 'history of serious violence and mental health issues', says Met commissioner
The suspected Golders Green knifeman had “a history of serious violence and mental health issues”, the Metropolitan Police commissioner said.
Speaking at the scene amid heckles of “resign” and “shame on you”, Mark Rowley said:
The 45-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, and remains in custody following a check up at the local hospital. He has a history of serious violence and mental health issues, and that investigation continues.
He went on to praise his officers for confronting the suspect, who they thought might be carrying an explosive, saying:
My first thoughts are with the two British Jews, who were attacked whilst going about their daily lives, which they should be able to do freely and safely in their own local community. I also want to pay tribute to my officers, who were on the scene within a few minutes, and whose actions undoubtedly prevented further injury and saved lives.
Before coming here today, I met with them. They’re nothing short of extraordinary. They confronted a man they believed to be a terrorist, who refused to show his hands, who was violent and continued to pose a clear threat. These were not armed officers, and they feared that he was carrying an explosive device.
Using only their training, their courage and their tasers, they managed to detain him, whilst he continues to try and attack and stab them. They will tell you they were simply doing their jobs but without their bravery, I dread to think what the outcome would have been.
I also want to recognise the extraordinary voluntary first responders from the community, including the Shomrim.
Prime minister calls Cobra meeting in aftermath of latest attack on Jewish community
The prime minister has called a Cobra meeting following the stabbing of two Jewish men in Golders Green, north London, local MP and justice minister Sarah Sackman said.
It comes as the home secretary Shabana Mahmood said she would “strain every sinew” to keep Jewish people safe following the “horrifying” suspected terror attack in Golders Green.
Terrorism policing assistant commissioner Laurence Taylor said one of the lines of inquiry is whether the Golders Green attack was “deliberately targeting the Jewish community”.
He told reporters:
I would like to praise the bravery of the police officers and members of the public who were at the scene and responded.
At 11.16am this morning, two men, aged 76 and 34, were attacked on Highfield Avenue in Barnet. They suffered stab wounds in the attack, and are now being looked after in hospital.
Metropolitan Police officers responding to the incident were also attacked, leading to the tasering and arrest of a 45-year-old man. He was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, and he remains in police custody. And Counter Terrorism Policing are now leading the investigation.
He added:
I can also confirm that this has now formally been declared a terrorist incident. Our highly-specialised teams of officers are working with the Metropolitan Police to progress this investigation quickly and establish exactly what has happened.
We’re also working with our partners in the security services to ensure we have a full intelligence picture. And one of the lines of inquiry is whether this attack was deliberately targeting the Jewish community in London.
Now, that community are strong, but they will be incredibly concerned to see and hear what has happened today, particularly in the wake of other incidents in recent weeks. And that concern will be felt not just in the capital, but in communities and homes across the UK.
I want to make it clear, that counter terrorism policing and police forces up and down the country are mobilising to provide additional support and reassurance.
Responding to the stabbings in Golders Green, victims’ commissioner for England and Wales Claire Waxman said: “My thoughts are with the victims of today’s horrific antisemitic attack in Golders Green, and with the wider Jewish community who will be deeply shaken by this incident.
“This is yet another attack in a string of disturbing incidents targeting the Jewish community in this country. As a member of the community, I know how relentless and deeply frightening this feels.
“I urge everyone to stand in solidarity with the British Jewish community – not to be bystanders to this hate or to allow it to become normalised and accepted.
“We all have a responsibility to challenge antisemitism and hatred in all its forms, whether online, on our streets, in workplaces, in schools or on university campuses.
“It is now vital that the police and the wider criminal justice system give these attacks the priority and urgency they demand.
“Those responsible must be held to account swiftly and clear reassurance provided to the Jewish community, and more widely, that this hatred will not be tolerated and has no place in this country.”
Police declare Golders Green stabbing a terrorist incident
Police have said the stabbing of two men in north London is being treated as a terrorist incident, with officers investigating whether the attack deliberately targeted the Jewish community.
Speaking outside Scotland Yard on Wednesday, head of counter terrorism olicing Laurence Taylor confirmed that the stabbing has been formally declared to be terrorism.
He said:
This has now formally been declared a terrorist incident. Our highly specialised teams of officers are working with the Metropolitan Police to progress this investigation quickly and establish exactly what has happened.
We’re also working with our partners in the security services to ensure we have a full intelligence picture, and one of the lines of inquiry is whether this attack was deliberately targeting the Jewish community in London.
Words of condemnation are no longer enough, says chief rabbi
Words of condemnation are no longer enough, the chief rabbi has said after the stabbing of two Jewish men in north London.
Ephraim Mirvis branded antisemitism “a hatred that we must face down together” and said what happened in Golders Green, north London on Wednesday morning must be a moment for “meaningful action”.
The apparent antisemitic attack follows a series of incidents of late targeting Jewish sites in the capital.
These have included four Jewish community ambulances being set alight in Golders Green in March, and this month an attempted arson attack at Finchley Reform Synagogue, an attack on a former Jewish charity building in Hendon, Barnet, and a “bottle with some sort of accelerant” being thrown at Kenton United Synagogue in Harrow,
Mirvis said:
Following the antisemitic stabbing of two Jewish people on the streets of Golders Green this morning, words of condemnation are no longer sufficient.
This must be a moment that demands meaningful action from every institution, every community, every leader and every decent person in our country.
This is a hatred that we must face down together.
Israel president 'horrified' by attack in London
The Israeli president, Isaac Herzog, said he was “horrified” by the attack in Golders Green, saying it has become dangerous for a Jew to “openly walk the streets” in London.
In a statement posted on social media, he said:
I am horrified by yet another violent attack on Jews in broad daylight on the streets of London. We are praying for a speedy recovery for all those injured.
Let me be clear: No Jew anywhere in the world should be a target because of their faith. In one of the great capital cities of the West, it has become dangerous to openly walk the streets as a Jew. This is an unacceptable situation. The British government and authorities must take urgent and immediate action before the next antisemitic attack occurs.
We have raised the alarm over the rise in global antisemitism again and again. It’s time for the world to wake up and fight this vicious wave of Jew hatred with all possible means. We in Israel will not stay silent as our Jewish sisters and brothers are threatened and attacked around the world.”
