King Charles has visited Golders Green and met the Jewish victims of the stabbings in the neighbourhood last month in a show of support for the community.
Meeting with Victims and Community Leaders
Charles visited a Jewish Care charity centre on Thursday to meet with victims Shloime Rand, 34, and Moshe Ben Baila, 76, also known as Norman Shine, along with Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis and Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley. The chief rabbi told the King they “appreciate it enormously” that he had made the visit.
Charles also spoke with members of the Jewish community police force Shomrim, who were involved in responding to the attacks on April 29.
Victim's Account of the Encounter
After speaking to the King, Mr Shine, who was stabbed in the neck outside a bus stop during the attack, spoke about the “genuine warmth” he had felt from the King. He said: “He was very concerned. The most inspiring thing was that he didn’t let go of my hand, I mean it was amazing, he is the King but I felt a genuine warmth and concern.” He said that the visit felt “extremely important” for the whole Jewish community. “We feel we have a genuine friend in the King,” he added.
Engagement with Responders and Community Groups
Speaking to the two members of Shomrim who had been involved in tackling the knife-wielding suspect, the King asked about their training. “Are you trained in how to disarm people?” Charles asked. The officers laughed and nodded, before the King congratulated them for their work. Charles also spoke to representatives from the Jewish volunteer ambulance service Hatzola, and the Union of Jewish Students.
Public Interaction and Community Spirit
After meeting with the victims, the King greeted the crowds gathered outside the charity centre on Golders Green Road. He waved to the crowds gathered outside and was greeted with chants of “long live the King”. Charles shook hands with a man who turned 100 on Thursday. “I hope they give you a good celebration, and I hope you get a card from me,” the King said. He was then presented with a loaf of traditional Challah bread outside Grodz bakery on the high street, and spoke to children from a local primary school.
Background on the Attack and Policing
The alleged Golders Green attacker Essa Suleiman, 45, has been remanded in custody accused of three counts of attempted murder. Suleiman is accused of trying to kill his friend of 20 years, Ishmail Hussein at his home in Southwark before stabbing the two Jewish victims in the street on April 29. Suleiman was born in Somalia and came to the UK legally as a child in the 1990s, and was reported to Prevent, the Government’s anti-extremism programme, in 2020 but the case was closed the same year.
In an interaction with the police commissioner during the visit, Charles appeared to ask about policing in Golders Green following the attacks. The Metropolitan Police recently announced a community protection team of 100 extra officers to help safeguard the Jewish community, despite Sir Mark Rowley’s previous call for 300 extra police officers. Charles also met a police officer, who said “it’s been an interesting few weeks for us”, to which the King nodded in agreement.
