Summary

  • Two Jewish men have been stabbed in Golders Green, north London - police say counter-terror officers are leading the investigation

  • The victims, in their 70s and 30s, are in a stable condition

  • The suspect, aged 45, also attempted to stab police officers. He was Tasered and has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder

  • "We are working to establish his nationality and background," says the Metropolitan Police

  • A local resident says one man was stabbed outside shops, and another outside a synagogue. CCTV seemingly shows the moment before one attack - see the clip at the top of the page

  • Keir Starmer says the attack is "deeply concerning", adding: "Attacks on our Jewish community are attacks on Britain"

  1. 'We were first on scene,' Shomrim security service volunteer sayspublished at 14:56 BST

    Lucy Manning
    Reporting from Golders Green

    Two men standing with security vests near an ambulance.
    Image caption,

    Ben Grossnass (left) and Steven Bak from Shomrim

    Ben Grossnass from Shomrim, a Jewish security volunteer group, describes how the team responded:

    "We got a phone call to the hotline saying that there's a man stabbing people and we sent our members to scene. We were first on scene, and we apprehended him together with the police.

    "He was outside the synagogue on Highfield Avenue, and he started stabbing someone outside there.

    "Then he went on down Golders Green Road, and he continued stabbing a visibly Jewish man and he went after him, pushed him over and started stabbing him repeatedly."

    Just a few weeks ago there was an arson attack against Hatzola ambulances run by a Jewish medical charity, almost in the same place. They treated the injured this morning. Here's Grossnass again:

    "It's just one after another and we're just crying out to the government to listen to us, feel the pain of the community. What's going on? How much more can we take? We're still in shock from the previous instance and this one happened."

    Steven Bak, also from Shomrim, says everyone is shocked.

    "Our kids are in shock and fear and having a hard time at the moment, just going up, walking, going to the shops, going to synagogue. So we have to pull together like we normally do, and just try and continue life," he says.

  2. Heavy police presence in Golders Greenpublished at 14:47 BST

    A police cordon remains in place after a man was arrested following the attack in Golders Green.

    Police speak to people from the cordon in Golders GreenImage source, AFP via Getty Images
    An ambulanec is parked behind a police cordon with multiple police officers standing by itImage source, AFP via Getty Images
    A police officer stands in front of a blocked off street with several vehicles behind him.Image source, Reuters
    A police officer takes down a statement from a womanImage source, AFP via Getty Images
  3. Three were treated at scene with air ambulance deployed, says LASpublished at 14:32 BST

    The London Ambulance Service says three patients were treated at the scene following the attack - the service took two to hospital, with the third taken by Hatzola, a volunteer Jewish ambulance service.

    As a reminder, police said two people were injured in the attacks, aged in their 70s and 30s, with a suspect Tasered and arrested.

    The LAS adds that a "number of resources", including an air ambulance, were sent to the scene.

    "We were called at 11.22am today [29 April] to reports of a stabbing on Highfield Avenue, NW11.

    "We sent a number of resources to the scene including ambulance crews, paramedics in fast response cars, an advanced paramedic and an incident response officer. We also dispatched London’s Air Ambulance."

    An image shared on social media earlier appeared to show an air ambulance near the scene.

    An air ambulance appears to have landed in a park area. Two men stand in the foreground of the imageImage source, Social media
  4. Golders Green attack: Are you in the area?published at 14:23 BST

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  5. Police considering 'all possible motives'published at 14:19 BST

    We can bring you more now from the police statement, which we published earlier.

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

    Det Ch Supt Luke Williams, who leads policing in the area, says police are grateful to officers who "swiftly Tasered and arrested the suspect before he could cause further harm".

    He adds that the suspect is in custody, and investigators are "considering all possible motives".

  6. What we know, and don't know, about attack on two Jewish men in north Londonpublished at 14:15 BST

    A police officer speaks to people from the cordon in Golders GreenImage source, Reuters

    What we know

    • Police have arrested a 45-year-old man on suspicion of attempted murder after two Jewish men were stabbed in Golders Green, north London
    • The two victims - one man in his 70s, and another in his 30s - are in a "stable condition" and are being treated in hospital, police say
    • According to a local resident, one man was stabbed outside shops on Golders Green Road, while the other man was attacked on a side road outside a synagogue
    • A Jewish community security organisation says it detained a man running along the high street "attempting to stab Jewish members of the public" - police then Tasered the suspect and arrested him
    • The suspect also attempted to stab police officers, the Met says
    • The investigation is being led by specialist officers from Counter Terrorism Policing "to establish the full circumstances and any links to terrorism"

    What we don't know

    • The background or nationality of the suspect - police say they are "working to establish" this
    • If police are looking for anybody else in connection with the attack
    • When the victims might be discharged from hospital, or the extent of their injuries

  7. 'There is an epidemic of violence against Jewish people' - Badenochpublished at 14:10 BST

    Kemi BadenochImage source, PA Media

    Some reaction now from the Conservative Party, with Leader of the Opposition Kemi Badenoch saying Jewish people in the UK are under "constant attack".

    "This is no longer a growing pattern. There is an epidemic of violence against Jewish people," she writes on X.

    "It is now a national emergency and needs to be treated as such by the government and public authorities."

    Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp has called today's incident an "appalling antisemitic attack".

    He separately tells the BBC he has spoken to a mother in Golders Green who is "scared to send her children to school because of these attacks".

    Keir Starmer has called the attack "deeply concerning", adding "attacks on our Jewish community are attacks on Britain".

  8. Pizza shop worker says he helped elderly victimpublished at 14:04 BST

    • Warning: This post contains distressing details

    A pizza shop worker has spoken of the moment he helped an older man bleeding from his neck after being stabbed in Golders Green.

    Tariq Aziz tells the PA Media: "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 says the suspect "wasn't running away" following the attack, and had pointed him out to police as he was "just walking down there with a knife".

    Aziz adds that he believes the victim was stabbed twice.

    The scene in Golders Green a short time agoImage source, PA Media
    Image caption,

    The scene in Golders Green a short time ago

  9. Suspect also attempted to stab police; victims in stable condition; counter-terror police lead investigationpublished at 13:38 BST
    Breaking

    We've just had a statement from the Metropolitan Police.

    "At 11:16hrs on Wednesday 29 April, officers responded following reports of people stabbed in Highfield Avenue.

    "Local officers and armed officers attended, alongside the London Ambulance Service.

    "The suspect also attempted to stab police officers, and was Tasered before being arrested. No officers were injured.

    "Two men – one in his 70s and one in his 30s – were treated at the scene for stab wounds. They have been taken to hospital and both are in a stable condition.

    "A 45-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder. He was taken into custody, where he remains. We are working to establish his nationality and background.

    "Specialist officers from Counter Terrorism Policing are leading the investigation and working with the Metropolitan Police to establish the full circumstances and any links to terrorism."

  10. Footage appears to show moment of attackpublished at 13:35 BST
    Breaking

    We're now seeing CCTV footage, verified by the BBC, that appears to show the moment of the attack.

    In the video, a person is standing on a street near a bus stop. Another person approaches him and then seems to attack, forcing him into the bus shelter.

    The CCTV footage is timestamped 29 April at 11:20.

  11. 'Those responsible will be brought to justice', says Starmerpublished at 13:24 BST

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer walks out of No 10 Downing StreetImage source, Reuters

    More now from Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who a short while ago told MPs the Golders Green attack was "deeply concerning".

    He now says on social media: "The antisemitic attack in Golders Green is utterly appalling."

    Starmer thanks Jewish groups Shomrim and Hatzola, and the police, for "acting swiftly", and pledges that "those responsible will be brought to justice".

    "Attacks on our Jewish community are attacks on Britain," he says.

  12. First pictures from the attackpublished at 13:14 BST
    Breaking

    Here are some of the first images from Golders Green, taken from social media.

    The first shows the apparent moment a suspect was arrested, while the second shows the wider response by emergency services.

    You can see clips in our carousel at the top of the page.

    Golders Green
    Image caption,

    Police holding man to the ground

    Golders Green
    Image caption,

    Emergency services at scene of stabbing

  13. Police made arrest, London mayor confirmspublished at 13:01 BST
    Breaking

    We've just heard from London Mayor Sadiq Khan.

    In a social media post, he confirms there has been an attack on two Jewish Londoners in Golders Green.

    He also says police have made an arrest.

    "I’m in close contact with the @MetPoliceUK, who will be providing further updates," he says, adding that "the Met have stepped up high visibility patrols in the area".

  14. Golders Green MP says she's meeting home secretary 'imminently'published at 12:59 BST

    Sarah Sackman sits next to Keir StarmerImage source, PA Media
    Image caption,

    Finchley and Golders Green MP Sarah Sackman (R) pictured in March during a meeting with the prime minister about an antisemitic arson attack in her constituency

    The MP for Finchley and Golders Green, Sarah Sackman, says she is meeting the home secretary "imminently" to discuss the attack in her constituency.

    "I have been made aware of a serious stabbing in Golders Green. The suspect has been detained," says Sackman in a statement.

    She thanks Shomrim, the Jewish security group, for its "vital work" detaining the suspect.

    "The attacks on British Jews are an attack on Britain itself. It is unconscionable that Jews are being targeted in this way", she says.

  15. Golders Green stabbing 'deeply concerning', says Starmerpublished at 12:43 BST
    Breaking

    Keir Starmer answering questions in the Commons. He's standing, leaning on a wooden lectern, colleagues sitting on green leather benches behind himImage source, UK Parliament/PA

    In Parliament, Prime Minister Keir Starmer says today's stabbing attack in Golders Green is "deeply concerning".

    He says an investigation is now ongoing, adding the country needs to be "absolutely clear in our determination to deal with any of these offences, the likes of which we've seen too much recently".

  16. Board of Deputies says it's working with police to ensure 'forceful response'published at 12:34 BST

    The Board of Deputies of British Jews has also issued a statement.

    "We are aware of a reported stabbing incident in Golders Green, with two injured," it says on X.

    "The police have apprehended a suspect.

    "We are liaising with the CST [Community Security Trust], government and police to understand what has happened and ensure a forceful response."

    Map of Golders Green in north London
  17. One man stabbed outside shops, another outside synagogue, says residentpublished at 12:30 BST
    Breaking

    Lucy Manning
    Special correspondent

    A local resident, Gedale Weinberg, says the attack happened almost outside his house.

    He was alerted after hearing the police and ambulances arrive.

    He says one stabbing took place on Golders Green Road outside shops, and another was on a side road outside a synagogue.

    He says his road is in lockdown, with armed police on the scene.

  18. Two Jewish men suffered serious injuriespublished at 12:21 BST
    Breaking

    Lucy Manning
    Special correspondent

    BBC News has confirmed two Jewish men were stabbed in the attack and are currently being treated for serious injuries.

  19. Two people stabbed in north London, Jewish security group sayspublished at 12:08 BST
    Breaking

    Lucy Manning
    Special correspondent

    Two people have been stabbed in Golders Green in north London after a man with a knife was seen running down the high street, attempting to stab Jewish people in the area.

    Shomrim, the Jewish community security organisation, said they responded immediately and detained a suspect.

    They said police then arrived and Tasered a man who has been arrested.

    The victims are being treated by Hatzola, whose ambulances were set on on fire across the road from today's incident last month.

    • This is a breaking story - we're working to bring you more details