Two Jewish men were stabbed by a 45-year-old man in London on Wednesday in what witnesses have described as a targeted attack.
A knife-wielding man was detained after attacking men in Golders Green, a largely Jewish north London suburb, according to reports from the United Kingdom. Shomrim, a Jewish neighborhood patrol group, said the attacker was targeting “Jewish members of the public.”
The attacker was running through the neighborhood with a knife before being confronted by members of Shomrim. The attacker was later tased and arrested by police after attempting to stab responding officers. Police have labeled the attack as terrorism.
The victims — one in his 30s and the other in his 70s — were treated at the scene by Hatzola, a local volunteer medical group. They have since been transported to the hospital in stable condition.
Police have arrested the man on suspicion of attempted murder and said they are trying to determine his nationality and background.
“We are aware of the significant distress and concern this incident is likely to cause in the face of a number of incidents in the local area,” said Detective Chief Superintendent Luke Williams. “A suspect is in custody, and investigators are considering all possible motives.
The stabbing spree followed a suspected arson attack in the neighborhood on Monday.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the attack “utterly appalling.”
“Attacks on our Jewish community are attacks on Britain,” he said. “Thank you to Shomrim, Hatzola, and the police for acting swiftly. Those responsible will be brought to justice.”
London Mayor Sadiq Khan condemned the attack and said police “have stepped up high visibility patrols in the area.”
Member of Parliament Chris Philp said the British government was not doing enough to combat radical Islam.
“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,” he said. “The government must urgently step up tangible actions against antisemitism, Iran, and Islamist extremism.”
One 30-year-old Jewish man told The Telegraph that the government had not done enough to protect his community.
“We used to feel very comfortable here. We thought we were safe and that the Government had our backs,” he said. “But so much has happened in the past few weeks and all we get is reassurances and words of condemnation from the prime minister.”
The attack comes as King Charles visits the United States and is set to visit the 9/11 Memorial in New York City on Wednesday.
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