The suspect arrested in connection with the Golders Green stabbing attacks has been identified as Essa Suleiman, a 45-year-old British national of Somali heritage. He was taken into custody by the Metropolitan Police on Wednesday shortly after two Jewish men were stabbed in the north-west London suburb. Suleiman is understood to have come to Britain as a child.
Police have confirmed that Suleiman was referred to the Prevent counter-terrorism scheme in 2020, but the case was closed the same year. Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley described the suspect as having a history of “serious violence” and mental health issues. The incident is being treated as terrorism, and police are in discussions with the Crown Prosecution Service regarding potential charges.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer visited the area on Thursday, calling on the public to “open their eyes to Jewish pain” and accusing those who march alongside Hamas supporters of “venerating the murder of Jews”. He stated that new powers are needed to protect the Jewish community, describing the attack as “not a one-off”. His presence was met with heckling from Stop the Hate protesters, one of whom branded him a “traitor”.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch also visited Golders Green, saying the community does not feel the government is doing enough to protect Jewish people. Former Prime Minister Theresa May echoed the chief rabbi’s warning that “words of condemnation are no longer sufficient”. London Mayor Sadiq Khan stated that “Jewish Londoners understandably and rightly want to see more action, not words”.
John Mann, the government’s independent adviser on antisemitism, said British Jews are at “breaking point” and feel they can no longer live safely in the UK. Jonathan Hall, the independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, called for a pause in pro-Palestinian protests, arguing that “demonisation of Jews and Israelis and Zionists will lead to a terrorist attack”. Several leading imams have also “utterly condemned” the attack.
