Golders Green terror cops probe 'altercation' before double stabbing as UK warned antisemitism is 'out of control'

The suspected knifeman in the Golders Green terror attack was involved in a prior “altercation” with another person in south London earlier in the day, police believe.

The Met said officers were called to an address in Great Dover Street, Southwark, at around 8.50am, after a suspect armed with a knife is believed to have had an altercation with the occupant before leaving.

The occupant suffered minor injuries, but the suspect was not found and officers believe he is the same man arrested in Golders Green.

Police also revealed they have been searching a property in south-east London following the stabbings on Wednesday.

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Two Jewish men – Shilome Rand, 34, and 76-year-old Mosche Ben Baila, named locally as Moshe Shine – were taken to hospital after being stabbed in Golders Green.

A 45-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after the victims, aged 76 and 34, were stabbed shortly after 11am in Highfield Avenue .

The victims were said by the Metropolitan Police to be in a stable condition.

The suspected knifeman, a British national who was born in Somalia, was Tasered as he attempted to stab police officer.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said the man had “a history of serious violence and mental health issues”.

Britain’s security minister Dan Jarvis said people would have died if police had not rushed to tackle the knifeman.

After the spate of antisemitic attacks in London, Israel’s foreign ministry said “the UK government can no longer claim this is under control”.

Scotland Yard’s Head of Counter Terrorism Policing Laurence Taylor confirmed that the stabbings were being treated as a terrorism incident.

Another clip was reported to show the suspect pinned to the ground and handcuffed after being detained.

Mr Rand told ITV News that he had just left his local synagogue and was on his way to work, when he was stabbed in the chest.

He said: “This fellow came towards me and just stabbed me in the chest… I jumped back, so thankfully it was only one stab.

It could have taken my life.”
A pizza shop worker on Golders Green Road said he helped the elderly stab victim after he saw him bleeding from his neck.

Tariq Aziz, who works at pizza takeaway shop Slice, said: “He came to our shop and then I gave him a tissue and helped him, and then police came suddenly and arrest the guy.”
He said the suspect “wasn’t running away” after the attack and that when the police came, he pointed out the suspect as he was “just walking down there with a knife” and “the police arrested him.”
London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan condemned the “appalling attack on two Jewish Londoners”.

He wrote on X: “There must be absolutely no place for antisemitism in society.”
Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim 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.”
The Israeli foreign ministry also called for stronger action.

“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.

“Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s statements are no substitute for confronting the roots of antisemitism festering across the United Kingdom.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office posted a message on X following the attack demanding action by the UK to protect Jews and “bring antisemites to justice”.

Sir Keir condemned the Golders Green incident as “utterly appalling”.

He added: “Attacks on our Jewish community are attacks on Britain.

“ Those responsible will be brought to justice.”
Ministers confirmed a further £25 million to increase security for the Jewish community and said new legislation to proscribe state actors would be rushed through Parliament, with Iran suspected of possibly being behind the string of recent attacks in the city.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is believed to be linked to a shadowy group called Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia, the Islamic Movement of the Companions of the Right, which has claimed responsibility for attacks on the Jewish community in London.

Counter-terror police earlier this month said they were looking into whether Iranian proxies could be employing “thugs for hire” to carry out the string of arson attacks in London in recent weeks.

In March, Hatzola was targeted by arsonists who destroyed four of its vehicles parked outside a synagogue in Golders Green.

“The Jewish community are not being properly protected from this hate.”
Met chief Sir Mark and Sarah Sackman, the Labour MP for Finchley and Golders Green MP were both heckled as they gave a press conference at the scene in Golders Green where they faced shouts of “shame on you” and calls to resign.

In response to questions about whether the Jewish community was safe and could trust the Met to protect them, Mr Rowley said he understood they were afraid.

He said: “This is an awful attack today.

It is completely understandable why Jewish Londoners feel afraid.

“That’s why we’re putting so much extra policing into these events.

And we’re going to be looking at what more we can do in forthcoming weeks.”
A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said: “His Majesty is being kept fully informed and is naturally deeply concerned, in particular about the impact for the Jewish community.

“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.”