The Metropolitan Police have released body cam footage showing the moment officers apprehended the suspect of a terrorist attack in north London, where two men were stabbed. The incident occurred just after 11am on Wednesday, April 29, in Golders Green.
Details of the Attack
Two victims, aged 76 and 34, were stabbed. One of them, Shilome Rand, was stabbed in the chest while leaving a synagogue. The stabbings are the latest in a series of attacks targeting the Jewish community in London.
Suspect's Background
A 45-year-old man, identified as a British national from Somalia, is in custody after being Tasered by police. The footage shows the moments leading up to his arrest, with officers repeatedly shouting 'drop the knife' before deploying a Taser. The suspect fell to the ground but continued to be told to 'drop the knife' as he attempted to attack and stab the officers.
In the commotion, a voice can be heard saying 'yeah I got it' as the knife flies to the right of the suspect, who remains on the ground. The footage ends with the suspect being handcuffed and told he is under arrest on suspicion of attempted murder.
Police Response
Alongside the footage shared online, the Met Police stated: 'Watch as police officers confront a man suspected of carrying out a terrorist attack in north London where two men were stabbed. The suspect refused to show his hands, was violent and continued to pose a clear threat. Using only their training, courage and tasers, they detained him while he continued to try to attack and stab them. This took true courage.'
Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley also praised the officers after meeting with them, saying: 'They are nothing short of extraordinary. They will tell you they were simply doing their jobs, but without their bravery, I dread to think what the outcome could have been.'
Community Reaction
The attack has sent shockwaves through the community, with Jewish leaders stating that 'this feels relentless'. Many political figures and public figures have expressed concern, including Prince William and Kate, who said they are following the situation closely and 'are, of course, concerned about the attacks upon the Jewish community'.
Victim Shilome Rand, who remains in hospital receiving treatment for his injuries, told ITV News: 'People are really concerned, people are afraid, people are uncomfortable walking in the street, people are blaming obviously the government for not doing anything about what's going on. It's for the past few months really that our community is suffering from these type of attacks. And now it's going on and trying to take people's lives and it's really terrible. The government, they are the ones that are able to take care of the problems. And they are not doing their job.'
