Authorities in the UK have said the stabbing attack on two Jewish men in north London is being treated as a terror attack and are investigating whether the Jewish community was deliberately targeted, Police Commissioner Laurence Taylor confirmed outside Scotland Yard, London’s police headquarters.
The attacks took place in Golders Green, a London area with a large Jewish population, on Wednesday.
The Metropolitan Police said the attack left two men, 34 and 76, in hospital with stab wounds and a 45-year-old man has been arrested for attempted murder.
The suspect has a history of “severe violence and mental health issues,” Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mark Rowley said at the scene, adding, “My first thoughts are two British Jews, attacked while going about their daily lives, should be able to do so freely and safely in their own community.”
“I also want to pay tribute to my officers, who were on the scene within minutes, and their actions undoubtedly prevented more injuries and saved lives,” he continued.
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Police said they were investigating whether the stabbing was related to the recent burning of several ambulances belonging to the Jewish-run charity Hatzolah in Golders Green and at synagogues and other Jewish sites in the British capital.
A man walks past a closed road after two people were stabbed in Golders Green, which has a large Jewish community, in London, Wednesday, April 29, 2026.
AP Photo/Kin Cheung
Politicians and Jewish leaders have condemned this violent incident.
“An attack on our Jewish community is an attack on Britain,” said Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan said the attack was “horrific” and thanked the emergency services for their quick response to the incident, including volunteers from Hatzolah and Shomrim, who were the ambulance service whose cars were set on fire in a previous antisemitic incident in Golders Green.
Shomrim is an independent, volunteer Jewish community watchdog that operates in major cities around the world, including London, New York and Toronto.
Shomrim said the suspect “was seen running on Golders Green Road armed with a knife and trying to stab the Jews of the community.” It said the suspect was arrested by members of Shomrim and arrested by the police who used a gun on him.
— This is a developing story; please check back for updates.
— via files from The Associated Press
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