A terrorist incident has been declared in the United Kingdom after two Jewish men were stabbed in north London on Wednesday by an attacker believed to have targeted them because of their faith.
Police arrested a 45-year-old man at the scene in Golders Green, an area with a significant Jewish population, following the attack on the two victims, aged 34 and 76. Both men were hospitalized with knife wounds and are reported to be in stable condition. A third person sustained slight injuries.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed that the stabbings have now been formally declared a terrorist incident.
“Our highly specialized teams of officers are working with the Metropolitan Police to progress this investigation quickly and establish exactly what has happened,” a police spokesperson said. “We’re also working with our partners in the security services to ensure we have a full intelligence picture.”
The incident occurred at approximately 11:20 a.m. local time, just meters from the site of a recent arson attack on a synagogue, where Jewish ambulances were torched. Police said the suspected attacker tried to stab officers but was unsuccessful; he was tasered and arrested on suspicion of attempted murder. Authorities are working to establish his nationality and background.
The stabbings are the latest in a spate of serious antisemitic attacks in the British capital and elsewhere in the UK. Jewish leaders have repeatedly warned that their community is under threat.
The reporter noted that there were approximately 3,700 antisemitic incidents recorded last year. “I’ve listened to very many Jewish leaders who are all shocked but in some way not surprised,” she said. She referenced a deadly attack on a synagogue in Manchester last year, as well as a series of arson attacks on synagogues — some of which caused damage and could have resulted in fatalities.
Police are reportedly investigating a possible Iranian link to some recent incidents. A pro-Iranian group called Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia (HAYI) has claimed responsibility for some recent attacks on social media, though those claims remain unverified. Officials have warned that Iran has sought to use proxies and low-level criminals, paying them money to carry out hostile activity in the UK.
The reporter also noted that since October 7, 2023 — the Hamas assault on Israel that triggered the war in Gaza — there have been numerous protests and serious incidents involving individuals described as radicalized and antisemitic.
Jewish community leaders say they do not want only statements of support from the prime minister or opposition politicians. “They want action, more protection,” she said.
