Prime Minister Keir Starmer has called for a “swift, agile and visible” response from the government and criminal justice system following a suspected terrorist attack in north-west London. Speaking after a meeting in Downing Street, Starmer said it was “absolutely clear” that the victims were targeted for being Jewish, and described the attack as part of a series of assaults on the Jewish community.
The stabbings occurred in Golders Green on Wednesday, leaving two men injured. The suspect, a 45-year-old British national born in Somalia, is in custody. Police have treated the incident as terrorism, with reports that the attacker was seeking anyone “visibly Jewish” to target. The victims, Shilome Rand, 34, and Moshe Shine, 76, remain in hospital in a stable condition.
Starmer emphasised that “an attack on our Jewish community is an attack on all of us,” and acknowledged the deep anxiety among British Jews. The government has announced an additional £25m to boost security for Jewish communities, including increased police patrols around synagogues, schools, and community centres. Ministers also plan to fast-track legislation creating powers to pursue individuals and organisations acting on behalf of malign state-sponsored groups.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said she would “do everything in my power” to keep British Jews safe, and noted that the suspect came to the UK lawfully as a child in the 1990s. Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mark Rowley stated that the individual has a history of serious violence and mental health issues.
Local residents expressed fear and uncertainty. Baruch Stern, a butcher near the scene, said people are questioning whether the UK remains safe for Jewish people. Sue Siegel of the Jewish Council of Scotland drew parallels to the pre-Holocaust era, noting that some community members are avoiding visible symbols of their faith.
