Terrorist incident designated after Golders Green knife attack leaves two Jewish Londoners seriously injured
Two British Jews were attacked while going about their daily lives in north London on Wednesday, in an incident that police have formally declared a terrorist act. The victims, a 34-year-old man and a 76-year-old man, were stabbed on Highfield Avenue in Barnet at approximately 11:16 am. They were taken to hospital with stab wounds and are reported to be in a stable condition. Investigators are treating the assault as a deliberate targeting of the Jewish community.
The Victims
The two men, both Jewish, were attacked near a bus stop in Golders Green, a neighbourhood that is home to a large Jewish population and described as an epicentre of Jewish life in London. Surveillance footage from the scene shows a man wearing a kippah moments before the assault. The younger victim, aged 34, and the older man, 76, were seriously injured, according to reports, but are now stable in hospital. The attack took place at a time of day when many residents were going about routine errands, and it has sent shockwaves through the community.
Officer Bravery
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley praised the courage of officers who responded to the scene, noting that they confronted the suspect despite believing he “might be carrying an explosive.” The officers acted with “immense bravery,” Sir Mark said, adding: “My first thoughts are with the two British Jews, who were attacked whilst going about their daily lives, which they should be able to do freely and safely in their own local community.” No officers were injured during the confrontation, and the suspect was subdued using a taser before being taken into custody.
The Suspect’s Confrontation
The suspect, a 45-year-old man, had also attempted to stab the responding police officers, but they escaped harm. He has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder. Police are working to establish his nationality and background, and counter-terrorism investigators are considering all possible motives. The arrest was assisted by Shomrim, a volunteer neighbourhood watch and security organisation for the Jewish community, which detained the suspect before police arrived on the scene. Hatzola, a volunteer-led Jewish emergency medical response charity, treated the victims at the scene.
Terror Investigation and Broader Context
The incident has been classified as a terrorist attack, with Counter Terrorism Policing leading the investigation. Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, head of Counter Terrorism Policing, confirmed the designation and said specialist teams are working with security services to build a full intelligence picture. Investigators are examining potential links between the stabbing and a recent series of arson attacks on Jewish sites in London, including the destruction of four Hatzola ambulances in Golders Green on March 23, 2026, and an arson attempt on the Finchley Reform Synagogue on April 15, 2026. On the same day, an arson attempt was made against the office of Iran International. The day before the stabbing, April 28, a memorial wall for Iranian protesters was set alight in Golders Green.
Counter-terrorism officers are also exploring whether these arson attacks could be the work of Iranian proxies. The UK has previously accused Iran of using criminal proxies to conduct attacks on European soil. MI5 has stated that over 20 potentially lethal Iran-backed plots were disrupted in the year ending October 2025. The stabbing comes amid a broader surge in antisemitic incidents across the UK. The Community Security Trust (CST) recorded 3,700 incidents in 2025, up sharply from 1,662 in 2022. This rise has been linked to the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on Israel and the subsequent Gaza war. In October 2025, an attack outside a Manchester synagogue resulted in one death from stabbing and another from being inadvertently shot by police.
Community and Political Reaction
Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the attack, stating: “Attacks on our Jewish community are attacks on Britain.” He vowed that those responsible would be brought to justice. A spokesman for the Prime Minister added that antisemitic hatred is “rising once again and we must defeat it.” London Mayor Sadiq Khan described the incident as an “appalling attack on two Jewish Londoners” and part of a “series of shocking antisemitic attacks” in the capital, announcing that police patrols in the area would be increased.
The Israeli president, Isaac Herzog, expressed horror at the attack, saying it has become dangerous to “openly walk the streets” as a Jew in London. Israel’s foreign ministry urged the UK to act “decisively and urgently” against antisemitism. The Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister, Sharren Haskel, criticised growing incitement and called for stronger action, while Minister of Aliyah and Integration Ofir Sofer described the British response as “inadequate.” The Board of Deputies of British Jews stated they are liaising with the CST, government, and police to ensure a “forceful response.” Faith leaders, including the Area Bishop of Edmonton, Dr. Anderson Jeremiah, and the Archbishop of Canterbury, have condemned the attack and spoken out against rising antisemitism.
Within the Golders Green community, shock and fear have been palpable. The CST noted that this incident follows a “string of disturbing incidents targeting the Jewish community.” Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis stated that words of condemnation are “no longer enough” and that British Jews face a “campaign of violence and intimidation.”
