A security volunteer in Golders Green was heartbreakingly asked by his wife whether it is time to leave the area, following a double stabbing yesterday that has been declared a terrorist attack.
Sam Denciger, 45, a volunteer with the Jewish neighbourhood watch group Shomrim, told the Mirror that the stabbing occurred just a few doors away from his home. His terrified wife later questioned whether it had become too dangerous to remain in Golders Green.
He said: “The stabbing happened outside my doorstep, a few doors away. My wife was standing in the same spot three minutes before and, you know, luckily it wasn't her. She says to me, 'Is it time to leave?' You know, maybe... there are so many signs.”
Suspect Known to Police
The Golders Green knife attack suspect was reportedly known to police, having been referred to the government's counter-extremism Prevent programme. The suspect was caught on CCTV appearing to stab a man near a bus stop in north-west London late in the morning. The 45-year-old was born in Somalia and came to the UK as a child in the early 1990s. He entered the country legally and is now a British citizen. Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mark Rowley previously stated that the suspect had a “history of serious violence and mental health issues.”
Victims Identified
One of the victims, Moshe Shine, 76, has been pictured, with friends describing him as “the nicest guy” who “would not harm a fly.” He was stabbed along with Shloime Rand, 34, in north London at around 11:15 am yesterday.
Community Reaction
Jewish leaders demanded tougher action on antisemitic violence after the double stabbing, which was declared a terrorist attack. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “What we saw last night was people being targeted because they are Jewish, I’m absolutely clear about that. There’s no getting away from the fact that this was not a one-off. This has been a series of attacks on our community, particularly in recent weeks, and there is a very deep sense of anxiety, of concern about security, about safety, about identity frankly.”
Residents in Golders Green woke up this morning to a barely-there police presence, despite the terror attack. They later opened up about the anger and fear they feel in the wake of the targeted attack. As the streets of north London returned to some sort of normality this morning, there was widespread anger at how the Jewish community is being treated. There was barely a visible police presence at all, with cordons lifted and commuters making their way to work. Worried parents taking their children to school desperately tried to keep their spirits up. One little boy celebrated his 11th birthday with a special cake in the Grodz bakery, which has been serving locals in the area since 1888.
