Counter-Terrorism Police Probe Stabbing Attack in London

Published: 30 April 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online.

The quiet streets of North London were shattered by violence during a terrifying incident yesterday. Police now treat the stabbing of two men in Golders Green as a terrorist act. The suspect reportedly went hunting for anyone visibly Jewish to attack within the local community. This horrific event occurred just after eleven in the morning on a busy Wednesday street. It follows a series of arson attacks on Jewish targets in London since early March. Two previous incidents had already raised alarm bells within the prominent Golders Green Jewish area. The victims are aged seventy-six and thirty-four and remain in stable condition in hospital. A forty-five-year-old man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of attempted murder yesterday. Officers used a stun gun to subdue the suspect before taking him into custody.

The Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis has since identified the two victims by their Hebrew names. He urged the public to pray for Nachman Moshe ben Chaya Sarah and Moshe Ben Baila. British counter-terrorism officials are now studying a claim of responsibility for the violent stabbings. A group linked to Iran known as Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia made the claim. This group has been linked to several attacks across Europe over the last few months. Their primary targets appear to be Jewish communities located within major Western European capital cities. The investigation into this specific attack is still in its very early and delicate stages. Detectives are currently working to access and examine the suspect’s various electronic and mobile devices. The suspect has a documented history of mental health issues and heavy illegal drug use. He also holds prior convictions for violence and has been known to local police services.

Counter-terrorism officials are trying to determine which specific ideology triggered this latest violent outburst. Both Iran-linked groups and the Islamic State have recently supported violence against Jewish people. Politicians in Israel and the UK opposition have accused the government of failing the community. They claim the Labour administration is not doing enough to protect vulnerable Jewish neighborhood areas. The attack began shortly after eleven in the morning on the main Golders Green Road. The suspect was seen running with a knife before stabbing his first victim at eleven-fifteen. He then managed to attack his second victim only ten minutes later on the street. Video footage showed the suspect pursuing other innocent people who were able to escape him. One video showed the man walking almost casually before lunging at a seventy-six-year-old man. This elderly victim was simply standing at a bus stop wearing a traditional kippah head covering.

The suspect repeatedly swung a large knife at the upper body of the elderly man. He held the victim with his left hand while stabbing with his right hand repeatedly. The man being attacked was forced backwards as brave passersby rushed to help him out. Another video captured the dramatic arrest as the suspect walked down a nearby quiet sidestreet. He was still clutching the knife while moving towards two Metropolitan Police officers and volunteers. One officer used Pava spray to try and subdue the man before using a Taser. The suspect fell to the ground while officers shouted for him to drop the knife. At least one member of the public helped the officers by sitting on the suspect. The Metropolitan Police said the suspect also tried to stab officers during the struggle yesterday. Thankfully the officers were unhurt during the arrest despite the suspect’s history of police assault.

Counter-terrorism police spent yesterday evening searching a residential address located in South-East London area. It was reported the suspect was involved in a prior altercation earlier that same morning. The police were called at eight-fifty to an incident at an address in Southwark. It is believed the suspect in that incident is the same individual arrested later. The suspect was armed with a knife and had an altercation with an occupant there. That occupant received minor injuries and police arrived within six minutes of the initial call. Officers searched the local Southwark area for the suspect but he was not located then. Inquiries were also carried out at an address connected to the man without any success. The Golders Green attacks happened very close to a memorial wall targeted by arsonists recently. This location is also near where four Jewish community ambulances were destroyed by fire lately.

Those previous fires in March are suspected to be the work of criminal Iranian proxies. Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the antisemitic attack in Golders Green as being utterly appalling. He stated that attacks on the Jewish community are attacks on the whole of Britain. Israel’s foreign ministry has been critical of the UK government position on the Gaza war. They said that statements are no substitute for confronting the roots of local antisemitism issues. They argued that British Jews should not need security patrols to live openly as Jews. Keir Starmer chaired a meeting of the Cobra crisis committee shortly after the stabbing happened. He promised a meeting with criminal justice agencies to ensure swift justice in these cases. The Prime Minister acknowledged the high levels of anxiety currently felt by the Jewish community. He noted that many feel exposed and vulnerable while going about their daily lives today.

He stated it is the job of the government to make sure people feel safe. He promised to deal with the roots of antisemitism and extremism in the United Kingdom. Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mark Rowley also gave a statement near the scene of the stabbings. He denounced antisemitism but was barracked by a small group of angry local residents nearby. They chanted for his resignation as he struggled to be heard over the loud noise. The Commissioner admitted that Jewish communities are understandably angry about the frequency of these attacks. He noted that there have been far too many incidents occurring in London recently. A terrorist attack on a Manchester synagogue last year also killed two innocent people then. That attacker claimed he carried out the atrocity on behalf of the Islamic State group. Both Islamic State and al-Qaida propaganda have called for attacks on Jewish targets lately.

A series of attacks since March are suspected of being carried out by criminal proxies. These groups are often believed to be acting at the behest of the Iranian state. Ben Grossnass of the Shomrim Northwest Community Patrol described the panic during the initial calls. He said a man was running around with a knife on Golders Green Road. Shomrim dispatched volunteers to the scene who followed the attacker until the police arrived there. He said the attacker had specifically chased individuals coming out of the local synagogue yesterday. The suspect was clearly trying to attack anyone who was visibly Jewish in the area. One victim was pushed to the ground and stabbed repeatedly while waiting for a bus. Steven Bak of the Shomrim patrol said his organization was on the scene very quickly. He noted that attacks have increased a lot over the past couple of years.

His volunteers are feeling very stretched as they receive calls all day and every day. He called for further assistance from the government to help secure the local Jewish neighborhoods. There has been a sharp rise in antisemitic attacks in the UK since October last. The Community Security Trust said this series of violent attacks is unprecedented and completely unacceptable. They believe it is an affront to the country and the British way of life. Every effort must be made by all parts of society to combat this hatred. Chief Rabbi Mirvis said that simple words of condemnation are no longer sufficient for us. This must be a moment that demands meaningful action from every institution and leader. A spokesperson from Kensington Palace said the victims are in the thoughts of the royals. The Prince and Princess of Wales are following the situation in London very closely.

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