Two Jewish men in hospital after being stabbed in apparent antisemitic attack

Man arrested after he was seen ‘attempting to stab Jewish members of the public’, says security group Shomrim

Police officers at the scene in Golders Green, north-west London, after two people were stabbed. Picture date: Wednesday April 29, 2026.

Two Jewish men, one aged in his 70s, have been stabbed in an apparent antisemitic attack in north London.

A man has been arrested after he was seen running along Golders Green Road armed with a knife and “attempting to stab Jewish members of the public”, Jewish security group Shomrim said on social media.

The disturbing attack prompted calls for action from the Chief Rabbi and the Israeli foreign ministry, following a series of incidents targeting Jewish sites in London.

One witness to Wednesday’s incident described the suspect walking away from the scene as one of the victims bled from his neck.

The 45-year-old suspect tried to stab police officers when he was stopped in Golders Green, and was tasered before being arrested.

Two victims, one in his 70s and the other in his 30s, are in a stable condition in hospital after the attack shortly after 11am in Highfield Avenue.

Unverified footage postage on social media shows an older man putting on a kippah as he waits at a bus stop, before the attacker lunges at him.

A pizza shop worker on Golders Green Road said he helped the elderly stab victim after he saw him bleeding from his neck.

Tariq Aziz, who works at pizza takeaway shop Slice, told the Press Association: “He came to our shop and then I gave him a tissue and helped him, and then police came suddenly and arrest the guy.” 

He said the suspect “wasn’t running away” after the attack and that when the police came, he pointed out the suspect as he was “just walking down there with a knife”.

Police said they are working to establish the “nationality and background” of the attacker, and the investigation is being led by Counter Terrorism Policing.

Head of Counter Terrorism Policing Laurence Taylor said: “Whilst I must stress this investigation is at an early stage, we are working quickly to understand exactly what happened.

“Thank-you to those who were in the area at the time and supported the response to this terrible incident.” 

The scene is around half-a-mile from a memorial wall where an attempted arson attack took place on Monday, and near where four Jewish community ambulances were destroyed by fire in late March.

These are among a number of alleged attacks on Jewish sites in London in recent weeks.

Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis said: “Following the antisemitic stabbing of two Jewish people on the streets of Golders Green this morning, words of condemnation are no longer sufficient.

“This must be a moment that demands meaningful action from every institution, every community, every leader and every decent person in our country. This is a hatred that we must face down together.” 

The Israeli foreign ministry also called for stronger action.

“After attacks on synagogues, Jewish institutions, community ambulances and now Jews targeted in Golders Green, the UK Government can no longer claim this is under control,” it said.

“Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s statements are no substitute for confronting the roots of antisemitism festering across the United Kingdom.

“British Jews should not need security patrols and emergency volunteers to live openly as Jews.

“Enough words. The UK must act decisively and urgently.” 

Speaking in the Commons on Wednesday, Mr Starmer said he had been told about the incident before attending Prime Minister’s Questions.

He told MPs: “It is deeply concerning to everyone in this House.

“There is now a police investigation and I think we all need to do everything we can to support that investigation and be absolutely clear in our determination to deal with any of these offences, the like of which we have seen too much recently.” 

Community security group Shomrim said that the suspect was detained by its members before he was tasered and arrested.

Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy said the attack was horrific, adding: “No-one should live in fear because of who they are.” Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said she is being kept updated by police.

She said: “My thoughts are with the victims of the abhorrent attack in Golders Green this morning, and the Jewish community.” 

Sarah Sackman, the MP for Finchley and Golders Green, said: “Attacks on British Jews are an attack on Britain itself.” 

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan urged anyone with information to contact police, and said the Metropolitan Police will step up patrols in the wake of the stabbings.

He said: “There has been an appalling attack on two Jewish Londoners in Golders Green.

“London’s Jewish community have been the target of a series of shocking antisemitic attacks.

“There must be absolutely no place for antisemitism in society.” 

Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said on X: “This is yet another appalling antisemitic attack.

“The Jewish community are not being properly protected from this hate.

“We have seen Iran sponsoring antisemitic attacks and Islamist extremism run rampant.

“The Government must urgently step up tangible actions against antisemitism, Iran and Islamist extremism.”