A suspected terrorist who stabbed two Jewish men has a history of serious violence and mental health problems, Britain’s most senior police officer has said.
Sir Mark Rowley told journalists in Golders Green that two police officers who Tasered and arrested the 45-year-old knifeman believed he had a bomb when they confronted him on Wednesday.
Jewish leaders called for tougher action on antisemitic violence after the double stabbing at around 11.15am which has been declared a terrorist attack.
Two men aged 76 and 34 are in a stable condition in hospital after they were stabbed in Highfield Avenue, Golders Green, north London.
Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis named them as Nachman Moshe ben Chaya Sarah and Moshe Ben Baila in a social media post.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said he would visit Golders Green “as soon as possible” following the “appalling attack”.
Speaking outside Scotland Yard head of counter terrorism policing Laurence Taylor said: “This has now formally been declared a terrorist incident.
“Our highly specialised teams of officers are working with the Metropolitan Police to progress this investigation quickly and establish exactly what has happened.
“We’re also working with our partners in the security services to ensure we have a full intelligence picture and one of the lines of inquiry is whether this attack was deliberately targeting the Jewish community in London.”
Disturbing footage posted online appears to show a man waiting at a bus stop putting on a kippah before an attacker lunges at him.
Another clip shows two police officers facing down the knife man in the middle of the road, before using a Taser and kicking him repeatedly in the head.
Sir Mark, who faced calls to resign from members of the public as he made a statement at the scene, said the officers were “nothing short of extraordinary”.
“They confronted a man they believed to be a terrorist, who refused to show his hands, who was violent and continued to pose a clear threat.
“These were not armed officers, and they feared that he was carrying an explosive device.
“Using only their training, their courage and their tasers, they managed to detain him whilst he continued to try and attack and stab them.”
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood pledged that the Government would “strain every sinew” to keep Jewish people safe, and a Cobra meeting has been called following the stabbing.
The King, currently on a visit to the US, is being kept informed, and “is naturally deeply concerned” about the impact on the Jewish community.
A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said: “His thoughts and prayers are with the two individuals who were injured and offers his heartfelt gratitude to those who so selflessly rushed to their aid.”
The scene is around half a mile from a memorial wall where an attempted arson attack took place on Monday and near to where four Jewish community ambulances were destroyed by fire in late March.
These are among a number of alleged arson attacks on Jewish sites in London in recent weeks, with a group called Hayi claiming responsibility.
It has also said it is responsible for the stabbing, although this is being treated with some scepticism due to the differing nature of the knife attack.
The other incidents involve arson or attempted arson, and one where a drone was flown near the Israeli embassy.
Chief Rabbi Sir 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 office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also said they “demand and expect action” to protect British Jews, who shadow home secretary Chris Philp said are not being properly protected.
A protest is being organised by the Campaign Against Antisemitism on Thursday evening outside Downing Street.
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… https://t.co/WO6a31JYdg
— Chris Philp MP (@CPhilpOfficial) April 29, 2026
Police said they are working to establish the “nationality and background” of the attacker who struck on Wednesday.
He was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and remains in custody after being checked over at hospital, Sir Mark said.
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 arrested 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”.
Ben Grossnass, a volunteer in community security group Shomrim, told PA: “We got a phone call to the hotline at 11.20am this morning, we were on the scene within a minute-and-a-half of the phone call.
“I saw a lot of shock in the street and the attacker was having CPR, I think he went into cardiac arrest after being tasered.
“There is a lot of hate in society and antisemitism.
“There are ways the Government can crack down on this and it is time they did that.”
Writing on X, the Prime Minister said that those responsible for the attack will be brought to justice.
He said: “The antisemitic attack in Golders Green is utterly appalling.
“Attacks on our Jewish community are attacks on Britain.”
Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy said the attack was horrific, adding: “No one should live in fear because of who they are.”