Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu strongly criticized the British government following a suspected anti-Semitic stabbing attack in London’s Golders Green, in which two Jewish men were seriously injured.Police say the two victims, who are in their 30s and 70s, are in stable condition.Netanyahu’s office called for stronger measures, saying that “the weakness highlights one anti-Semitic attack after another in London,” adding that “words are not enough to confront this scourge.” It called for “decisive action” to protect British Jews and ensure speedy justice for the perpetrators.
The attack intensified political pressure on the British leadership, with concerns growing about a series of incidents targeting Jewish communities and institutions in the British capital.
The suspect has been identified as a British national of Somali origin
According to the Metropolitan Police, the suspect is a 45-year-old British citizen who was born in Somalia. He was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and was briefly hospitalized before being taken into custody.Police confirmed that the suspect was also linked to a separate incident that occurred earlier in south-east London on the same day, which involved a knife fight in which one resident sustained minor injuries.Officers are also searching a property in south-east London as part of the investigation.
Counter-terrorism police are leading the investigation, with authorities saying they are examining possible terrorist links and the suspect’s background, including a history of violence and mental health issues.
Police are treating the case as a terrorism investigation
The Metropolitan Police said the investigation was being led by counter-terrorism officers, who were “working to establish the full circumstances and any potential links to extremist motives”.Authorities also confirmed that the suspect attempted to attack responding officers during the incident.Footage circulating online reportedly shows bystanders and security volunteers intervening before police arrest the attacker.
Starmer calls attack ‘absolutely horrific’
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the stabbing, describing it as “absolutely horrific,” and stressed that “attacks on our Jewish community are attacks on Britain.”
He said the government was working to increase funding for community security and work to “eliminate anti-Semitism wherever it appears,” including in public institutions.Downing Street described the incident as “deeply shocking”, acknowledging growing concerns within the Jewish community.
A series of anti-Semitic events
The Golders Green stabbing comes amid a broader pattern of attacks and security threats in London, including arson targeting Jewish emergency vehicles and vandalism near synagogues.Community organizations reported nearly 3,700 anti-Semitic incidents last year, more than double the previous year’s numbers.London Mayor Sadiq Khan said there was “no place for anti-Semitism in society,” while King Charles III expressed his “deep concern” and offered support to the victims and the Jewish community.Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis said that “words of condemnation are no longer enough,” and urged all institutions to “take meaningful action.”The Israeli Foreign Ministry echoed Netanyahu’s criticism, saying British Jews should not need “security patrols and emergency volunteers” to live safely and called for urgent government action.
