Two Jewish men were stabbed in a suspected terrorist attack in Golders Green, north London, on Wednesday morning. The victims, Shloime Rand, 34, and Moshe Shine, 76, were attacked on the street in what police described as a targeted act of violence. A 45-year-old British national born in Somalia was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after being tasered by police.
What Happened?
CCTV footage appears to show the suspect launching the attacks, stabbing the men who were described as innocent bystanders. Members of the local voluntary security service Shomrim were first on the scene and helped apprehend the suspect. Volunteer Ben Grossnass told the Jewish Chronicle: "He came outside a synagogue and started stabbing people, he pushed one of the victims over and continued stabbing him."
Body cam video shows the attacker approaching two police officers who ordered him to "stay back" and "get down on the ground" before firing tasers. The officers shouted at him to "put down the knife" as they moved in. The suspect was arrested and taken to hospital before being released into police custody.
Both victims were treated at the scene for stab wounds and remain in a stable condition in hospital. Shloime Rand's mother told the BBC she was "horrified" such an attack could happen on London's streets, adding: "Shloime was walking on the street minding his own business. Thank God, he was conscious the whole time."
Who Is the Suspect?
Few details have emerged about the suspect beyond his British nationality and Somali birth, standard procedure until formal charges are filed. Metropolitan Police chief Sir Mark Rowley said the individual has a "history of serious violence and mental health issues." Police also linked him to an earlier incident in south London on the same morning, where he allegedly had an altercation at an address in Great Dover Street, Borough, leaving the occupant with minor injuries.
What Has the Response Been?
Counterterrorism police are investigating whether the stabbings are linked to recent arson attacks on synagogues and other Jewish sites in London. Sir Mark Rowley called it "another horrendous act of violence directed against our Jewish communities." However, some British Jews expressed anger at authorities' failure to keep them safe, with bystanders shouting "shame on you" and "resign" at Rowley when he spoke at the scene.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said she is treating the rise in antisemitic attacks as "an emergency" and announced an extra £25 million in funding for increased police patrols and security in Jewish communities. Prime Minister Keir Starmer held an emergency committee meeting and vowed to "deal with the roots of antisemitism and extremism." Buckingham Palace said King Charles III was "deeply concerned."
Britain's chief rabbi, Ephraim Mirvis, said Jews in the UK face a campaign of violence and intimidation, adding: "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."
The 2021 Census reported 287,360 people identifying as Jewish in England and Wales, with over half living in London. Golders Green is one of the community's largest areas. The Community Security Trust recorded 3,700 antisemitic incidents in 2025, up from 1,662 in 2022, since the Hamas-led attack on 7 October 2023 and Israel's subsequent war in Gaza.
