LONDON, May 1, 2026 London man charged with attempted murder in Jewish stabbings
A 45-year-old man has been charged with attempted murder after stabbing two Jewish men in London, an attack police have labeled as terrorism.
Charges and Attack Details
Essa Suleiman, a Somalia-born British citizen, faces two counts of attempted murder for the stabbings in Golders Green, a north London neighborhood with a large Jewish population. The victims, aged 34 and 76, sustained serious injuries but are now either discharged from the hospital or in stable condition.
Suleiman also faces a third attempted murder charge related to a separate incident elsewhere in London, where a man suffered minor injuries. Authorities have not disclosed a motive, but the attack follows a recent surge in arson attacks targeting synagogues and other Jewish sites in the city.
Terrorism and Security Response
Britain’s terror threat level was raised from substantial to severe following the stabbings, indicating intelligence agencies believe an attack is highly likely in the next six months. Prime Minister Keir Starmer vowed to strengthen security for the Jewish community, stating the government would "do everything in our power to stamp this hatred out."
The British government has pledged to tackle antisemitism, particularly in areas like Golders Green, which serves as an epicenter of the country’s Jewish community. Suleiman was referred to the government’s Prevent program in 2020, an initiative aimed at diverting individuals from extremism, though his file was later closed without public explanation.