A 45-year-old man has been charged with multiple counts of attempted murder following a series of stabbing incidents targeting Jewish victims in London, intensifying concerns within the country’s Jewish community.
Police identified the suspect as Essa Suleiman, a Somalia-born British citizen residing in London. He faces two counts of attempted murder linked to an attack in Golders Green, a north London area known for its large Jewish population. A third charge relates to a separate stabbing earlier the same day in another part of the city, where a man sustained minor injuries.
The two victims in the Golders Green attack, aged 34 and 76, suffered serious injuries. Authorities confirmed that one has since been discharged from hospital, while the other remains in stable condition.
Suleiman is expected to appear in court for the first time later on Friday.
The incidents come amid a troubling rise in antisemitic violence across London, including recent arson attacks targeting synagogues and Jewish-owned properties.
In response, Prime Minister Keir Starmer pledged stronger protection measures, stating that the government would “do everything in our power to stamp this hatred out.”
Following the attacks, the UK’s official terror threat level was raised from “substantial” to “severe,” indicating that an attack is considered highly likely in the coming months.
Police also confirmed that Suleiman had previously been referred to the government’s Prevent programme in 2020, though his case was later closed.
