London mayor laments “shocking antisemitic attacks” as 2 hurt in stabbing

Latest news on anti-Semitic arson attack on Jewish community ambulances 03:51

A man was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of attempted murder after two people were stabbed in a heavily Jewish neighborhood in north London, authorities said.

The mayor of London said the “appalling attack on two Jewish Londoners” was part of a “series of shocking anti-Semitic attacks” in the British capital, and he said police would increase patrols in the area.

The suspect was seen running along a main road in Golders Green, long-time home to a large Jewish population, “armed with a knife and attempting to stab Jewish members of the public,” according to a statement from Shomrim, a community group that runs a voluntary neighborhood watch program.

The group said its members “responded immediately and arrested the suspect,” until police “arrived and deployed a Taser” to arrest the man.

London’s Metropolitan Police said counter-terrorism officers were leading the investigation and confirmed a man had been arrested for attempted murder. They said both victims were in stable condition.

Both victims were initially treated by Hatzola, a volunteer Jewish emergency response organization, according to Shomrim.

CBS News partner BBC reported that the two victims were Jewish men who were seriously injured.

Another local group, the Community Security Trust, said in a social media post that “there was a stabbing today in Golders Green. The suspect has been arrested”, thanking Shomrim, Hatzola and London Police “for their quick response”.

Speaking outside Parliament on Wednesday, British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer described the attack as “deeply concerning”.

“There is now a police investigation and I think we all need to do everything we can to support that… and be absolutely clear in our determination to deal with any of these offenses, as we have seen too many recently,” he said.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, confirmed in a post on social media “an appalling attack on two Jewish Londoners in Golders Green”.

“London’s Jewish community has been the target of a series of shocking anti-Semitic attacks. There must be absolutely no place for anti-Semitism in society,” Khan said, adding that police had “stepped up their high-visibility patrols in the area.”

The attack follows a series of incidents last month targeting Jewish communities in north London, including an arson attack which saw several Hatzola ambulances destroyed in the same area.

After another incident, an attack on a synagogue in northwest London on April 18, the United Kingdom’s chief rabbi, Sir Ephraim Mirvis, said that “the sustained campaign of violence and intimidation against the Jewish community is gaining momentum.”

On Tuesday, following an attempted arson attack in the same area, the chief constable of north-west London said: “We are aware that this incident will increase concerns in the Golders Green area, where residents have already faced a series of attacks.”

“Since last month’s attack in Golders Green, we have stepped up our work to reassure communities,” he said. “This includes armed police patrols as well as the deployment of Project Servator officers, who are specially trained to spot anyone who may be planning or preparing to commit criminal acts.”