Two Jewish men were stabbed and injured in an act of terrorism on a London street, with a 45-year-old man arrested on suspicion of attempted murder following the latest antisemitic attack in the Golders Green area, according to the Metropolitan Police. The victims, aged 34 and 76, were hospitalized with knife wounds. Counterterror police are probing potential links to recent arson attacks on synagogues and other Jewish sites in the British capital.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the stabbings, emphasizing that attacks on the Jewish community are an attack on Britain as a whole. The government’s emergency committee convened to discuss the response, and King Charles expressed deep concern over the incident. Metropolitan Police chief Mark Rowley labeled the violence as another appalling act against the Jewish community.
Despite the swift response, some British Jews voiced frustration over the authorities’ perceived failure to ensure their safety. During Rowley’s media statement at the stabbing scene, onlookers shouted “shame on you” and “resign.” The security organization Shomrim reported that a suspect armed with a knife was apprehended by Shomrim members and police after attempting to stab Jewish individuals along Golders Green Road. Surveillance footage captured the assailant wearing a kippah before attacking a passerby.
The suspect tried to stab police officers as well, but none were harmed. Rowley disclosed that the suspect, who remains unidentified, has a history of serious violence and mental health issues. Recent arson incidents targeted Jewish locations in London, including charity ambulances in Golders Green and a nearby synagogue. Resident Anthony Silber described the physical attack on two individuals as shocking, emphasizing the need to address such violence.
Antisemitic incidents have been on the rise in the UK since October 2023, following a Hamas-led attack on Israel and subsequent events. The Community Security Trust reported a surge in antisemitic incidents, reaching 3,700 in 2025 compared to 1,662 in 2022. In October 2025, an assailant drove into a crowd outside a Manchester synagogue on Yom Kippur, resulting in a fatal stabbing and an accidental police shooting that claimed another life. The Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis called for meaningful action against the campaign of violence and intimidation faced by Jews.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan emphasized the need to eradicate antisemitism from society entirely. Counterterror officers are investigating the possibility that the arson attacks were carried out by Iranian proxies. Britain has accused Iran of orchestrating attacks on European soil through criminal proxies, including targeting opposition media outlets and the Jewish community. Israeli President Isaac Herzog urged global awareness of the increasing wave of anti-Jewish sentiments, highlighting the dangers faced by Jews in open public spaces.