UK Charges Man with Terrorism in Stabbing of Two Jewish Men

Two Jewish men were stabbed on Wednesday in Golders Green, an area of northwest London with a significant Jewish population. Police have charged a 45-year-old man, Essa Suleiman, with two counts of attempted murder and possession of a bladed article in relation to the attack.

The incident is being treated as terrorism-related, leading officials to raise the national terrorism threat level to its second-highest level, indicating that an attack is highly likely within the next six months. According to HuffPost, Suleiman was also charged with attempted murder in relation to a separate incident earlier on the same day in south London.

The victims, aged 34 and 76, were hospitalized following the attack. The younger victim has since been released, while the elder remains in stable condition. Police reported that Suleiman sought out 'visibly Jewish' victims. He had previously been referred to the government's Prevent deradicalization scheme in 2020 but was later released.

The attack comes amid a rise in antisemitic incidents across the UK. The Community Security Trust recorded 3,700 antisemitic incidents in 2025 alone. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has described the situation as an 'antisemitism emergency' and pledged $34 million for increased security around Jewish communities.

Interior minister Shabana Mahmood stated that Britain has been experiencing a growing terrorist threat, not solely in response to this incident. There are mounting security concerns linked to foreign states, which the government said had helped fuel violence against the Jewish community, including arson attacks on synagogues and Jewish ambulances.

Police are reviewing upcoming pro-Palestinian marches in London to assess whether further restrictions are necessary. Metropolitan Police chief Mark Rowley told the BBC that authorities would 'do everything we can do to maximize the sense of safety in London.' While police cannot ban protests outright, they can impose restrictions on their movements.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer warned Saturday that tougher action was needed against people chanting certain phrases at pro-Palestinian protests. He suggested that repeated marches have had a 'cumulative effect' linked to the rise in antisemitic incidents in the UK. Starmer specifically mentioned the chant 'globalize the intifada,' stating that such rhetoric should be met with tougher action.

Metropolitan Police chief Mark Rowley warned that British Jews are facing their greatest ever threat, blaming social media for making antisemitism more mainstream. He noted that Jewish communities are now targeted by various extremist groups and hostile states, including Iranian-related threats.