UK police arrest man after two stabbed in London’s Jewish area

Two Jewish men were stabbed Wednesday in north London, in the wake of a series of arson attacks targeting Jewish sites, with the prime minister and the capital’s mayor leading condemnation of the “appalling” assaults.

A man was arrested after he was seen running with a knife “attempting to stab Jewish members of the public,” the Shomrim Jewish neighborhood watch said on social media.

London police said a suspect had been arrested after attempting to stab police officers.

“Two men — one in his 70s and one in his 30s — were treated at the scene for stab wounds,” the capital’s Metropolitan Police force said. “They have been taken to hospital and both are in a stable condition.”

A 45-year-old suspect was detained by members of Shomrim before police officers used an electroshock weapon on him, the group said.

The victims were treated by Hatzola, a Jewish volunteer ambulance service.

The incident in the British capital took place in Golders Green, home to a large Jewish community.

It comes after a spate of arson attacks on synagogues and community sites in north London in recent weeks.

Israel’s foreign ministry condemned Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government shortly after the attack.

“After attacks on synagogues, Jewish institutions, community ambulances and now Jews targeted in Golders Green, the UK government can no longer claim this is under control,” it said on X.

The stabbings also follow a deadly assault on a synagogue in northern Manchester last October on the Jewish holy day of Yom Kippur.

That attack killed two people and seriously injured three, prompting increased anxiety among Jewish communities.

“Our thoughts are with the victims of this horrific attack. We are grateful to officers who swiftly tasered and arrested the suspect before he could cause further harm,” said the Met’s Detective Chief Superintendent Luke Williams.

“We are aware of the significant distress and concern this incident is likely to cause in the face of a number of incidents in the local area,” he said.

Specialist officers from Counter Terrorism Policing would lead the investigation, working with the Met.
Starmer informed lawmakers in parliament of the attack.

“The antisemitic attack in Golders Green is utterly appalling. Attacks on our Jewish community are attacks on Britain,” he added on X.

“Those responsible will be brought to justice.”

But Israel’s foreign ministry said the prime minister’s words were “no substitute for confronting the roots of antisemitism festering across United Kingdom.”

“British Jews should not need security patrols and emergency volunteers to live openly as Jews. Enough words. The UK must act decisively and urgently.”

‘Antisemitic’

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan described the attack “on two Jewish Londoners” as “appalling.”

“London’s Jewish community have been the target of a series of shocking antisemitic attacks. There must be absolutely no place for antisemitism in society,” he said on X.

The first London attack in late March saw four ambulances belonging to Hatzola set ablaze.

Other incidents have followed, including an attack on the Kenton United Synagogue in Harrow as well as the premises of a Jewish charity.

Last week, the Finchley Reform Synagogue was targeted.

Police have arrested 26 people for the various attacks, launched since the start of the US-Iran war on Iran on February 28.

Many of the incidents have been claimed by a little-known group, believed to be linked to Iran, called Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiya (HAYI), meaning The Islamic Movement of the People of the Right Hand.

Monitoring groups have reported an upsurge in antisemitic and Islamophobic incidents in Britain, particularly since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

The Community Security Trust recorded 3,700 instances of anti-Jewish hate across the UK last year, a four percent rise on 2024, but down on 2023.