![\"Vikram](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Vikram_Dodd,_L.png\")
Vikram Dodd<\/p>\nGolders Green attack suspect named as Essa Suleiman, 45Vikram Dodd<\/p>\n
The suspect arrested by police over the Golders Green stabbing attacks is Essa Suleiman, aged 45.<\/p>\n
He was arrested by the Metropolitan police in the north west London suburb on Wednesday shortly after two Jewish men were stabbed, and is currently in custody.<\/p>\n
He has not officially been named, but several new organisations, including The Guardian, have been aware of his identity.<\/p>\n
![\"Golders](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/238.jpg\")
Golders Green attacker. Photograph:<\/p>\n
Suleiman was born in February 1981, is of Somali heritage, and is understood to have come to Britain as a child.<\/p>\n
He is described as a British national and the Met commissioner Sir Mark Rowley says the suspect, whom he did not name, has a history of \u201cserious violence\u201d and mental health issues.<\/p>\n
The incident is being treated as terrorism and police have been in discussions about the case with lawyers at the Crown Prosecution Service, which authorises criminal charges in England and Wales.<\/p>\n
Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.17 EDT<\/p>\n Key events<\/p>\n Show key events only<\/p>\n Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature<\/p>\n Closing summary<\/p>\n Keir Starmer has called on people to \u201copen their eyes to Jewish pain\u201d in the wake of the Golders Green terror attack, and accused anyone marching alongside supporters of Hamas of \u201cvenerating the murder of Jews\u201d. The prime minister made his strongest ever remarks on antisemitism after visiting the area of the attacks for a meeting with emergency workers and community leaders.<\/p>\n The prime minister\u2019s presence was greeted by heckling from Stop the Hate protestors, a group campaigning against antisemitism, with one branding him a \u201ctraitor\u201d for failing to keep Jews safe. In a statement in Downing Street, Starmer said new powers were needed to protect the Jewish community after the stabbing attack, which was \u201cnot a one-off\u201d. Two Jewish men were hospitalised with knife wounds.<\/p>\n The suspect arrested by police over the Golders Green stabbing attacks is Essa Suleiman, aged 45. Suleiman was born in February 1981, is of Somali heritage, and is understood to have come to Britain as a child.<\/p>\n Tory former prime minister Theresa May said she agreed with chief rabbi Ephraim Mirvis\u2019s warning that \u201cwords of condemnation are no longer sufficient\u201d after the north London double stabbing. May wrote on X: \u201cYesterday\u2019s attack in Golders Green, and the escalating attacks of recent months, have shown, beyond doubt, that we must do more to protect our Jewish community.\u201d<\/p>\n Keir Starmer held a roundtable with first responders and leaders from Hatzola as well as Shomrim, a volunteer Jewish security group. He was joined by home secretary Shabana Mahmood and Sarah Sackman, MP for Finchley and Golders Green, as well Metropolitan Police commissioner Mark Rowley.<\/p>\n London mayor Sadiq Khan has said that \u201cJewish Londoners understandably and rightly want to see more action, not words.\u201d In a statement on social media, the London mayor said that the Metropolitan police has surged its policing presence in Barnet over the last four weeks, with plans in place to deploy additional policing over the next month.<\/p>\n Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, who visited Golders Green after the attack yesterday, said the community there does not feel the government is doing enough to protect Jewish people. \u201cYou could feel the fear that was on the streets,\u201d she told BBC Radio London.<\/p>\n John Mann, the government\u2019s independent adviser on antisemitism, said British Jews are at \u201cbreaking point\u201d and feel they can no longer live safely in the UK. \u201cDon\u2019t forget, everyone in the Jewish community is fleeing from somewhere,\u201d the Labour peer told Sky News.<\/p>\n Jonathan Hall, the independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, has called for a pause in pro-Palestinian protests where \u201cpublic demonisation and hatred is incubated\u201d in response to the Golders Green stabbings, arguing that \u201cdemonisation of Jews and Israels and Zionists will lead to a terrorist attack\u201d. The barrister acknowledged that the motivation of the 45-year-old suspect had yet to be established, but said that he believed there was a \u201csocial responsibility\u201d to reduce the risk of attacks on the Jewish community, and said that antisemitism represented \u201ca national security emergency\u201d.<\/p>\n Several of the UK\u2019s leading imams have come together to \u201cutterly condemn\u201d the Golders Green attack. The leaders, including the chief Iman of Scotland, Sayed Razawi, alongside Jewish leaders signed the Drumlanrig Accords<\/a> last year, which aims to strengthen Jewish-Muslim relationships in the UK.<\/p>\n Share<\/a> Keir Starmer has called on people to \u201copen their eyes to Jewish pain\u201d in the wake of the Golders Green terror attack, and accused anyone marching alongside supporters of Hamas of \u201cvenerating the murder of Jews\u201d.<\/p>\n The prime minister made his strongest ever remarks on antisemitism after visiting the area of the attacks for a meeting with emergency workers and community leaders.<\/p>\n His presence was greeted by heckling from Stop the Hate protestors, a group campaigning against antisemitism, with one branding him a \u201ctraitor\u201d for failing to keep Jews safe.<\/p>\n In a statement in Downing Street, Starmer said new powers were needed to protect the Jewish community after the stabbing attack, which was \u201cnot a one-off\u201d. Two Jewish men were hospitalised with knife wounds.<\/p>\n \u201cAntisemitism is an old, old hatred, history shows that the roots are deep, and if you turn away, it grows back,\u201d he said. \u201cYet, far too many people in this country diminish it. They either don\u2019t see it or they don\u2019t want to see it.\u201d<\/p>\n He strongly criticised people who march alongside supporters of Hamas without calling it out. However, the government has stopped short of endorsing the idea of a pause on pro-Palestine marches, which has been suggested by Jonathan Hall, the independent reviewer on terrorism.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Shahram Akbari, 56, is a businessman and activist, having come to the UK a decade ago.<\/p>\n He said he felt \u201cpositive\u201d that Farage had visited Golders Green today.<\/p>\n \u201cWe don\u2019t want to see any Starmer, any kind of pigs,\u201d he said. \u201cBecause he\u2019s supporting IRGC and terrorists everywhere in the world.\u201d<\/p>\n He added: \u201cWe call him in Iran, Ayatollah Starmer.\u201d<\/p>\n Akbari said Starmer was \u201ccomplicit\u201d in the deaths of Iranians featured on the memorial wall by not banning the group.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Adela Suliman<\/p>\n Justin, a 93-year-old resident, who lives on the high street in Golders Green, said he thinks what happened yesterday was \u201cdreadful\u201d.<\/p>\n He said:<\/p>\n double quotation markI think religion is causing too much hatred. I\u2019m born Jewish, but I\u2019m not religious at all, because I feel it\u2019s a dreadful thing.<\/p>\n On politicians, he added:<\/p>\n double quotation markWhat can they do? People are back to normal. They\u2019re driving, they\u2019re shopping. What\u2019s a politician going to do?<\/p>\n Asked about the prime minister Keir Starmer, Justin said:<\/p>\n double quotation markHe could have come here. He didn\u2019t have to wait till somebody got stabbed. You know, so what\u2019s he doing here?<\/p>\n \u201cThey want to get re-elected, so they want to show up at difficult times. It\u2019s normal. I feel safe. Safe as you can be.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.57 EDT<\/p>\n Golders Green attack suspect named as Essa Suleiman, 45 The suspect arrested by police over the Golders Green stabbing attacks is Essa Suleiman, aged 45.<\/p>\n He was arrested by the Metropolitan police in the north west London suburb on Wednesday shortly after two Jewish men were stabbed, and is currently in custody.<\/p>\n He has not officially been named, but several new organisations, including The Guardian, have been aware of his identity.<\/p>\n Suleiman was born in February 1981, is of Somali heritage, and is understood to have come to Britain as a child.<\/p>\n He is described as a British national and the Met commissioner Sir Mark Rowley says the suspect, whom he did not name, has a history of \u201cserious violence\u201d and mental health issues.<\/p>\n The incident is being treated as terrorism and police have been in discussions about the case with lawyers at the Crown Prosecution Service, which authorises criminal charges in England and Wales.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.17 EDT<\/p>\n Asked about reports the suspect in the investigation had previously been referred to Prevent, Starmer says the programme was reviewed and changes were made after the Southport attacks.<\/p>\n After his statement, he was also asked whether he should say sorry after one of the victims of the double stabbing in Golders Green said he felt let down by the government.<\/p>\n The prime minister replied:<\/p>\n double quotation markCan I start by saying I absolutely understand the high levels of anxiety and concern that there are, reflected in the various reactions over the last days. I completely understand. That anxiety has been there for a very long time, and the appalling terrorist attack yesterday made it worse.<\/p>\n He pointed to Government actions including Wednesday\u2019s Cobra meeting and a roundtable with criminal justice agencies, enhanced funding for security.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re looking at what further measures we can take on protests, particularly in relation to chants, to banners and the repeated nature of protests,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re of course looking at what more needs to be done in health and education, and we will fast-track powers to deal with malign state actors. So there is a lot that is being done.<\/p>\n \u201cOf course we need to do everything we can, but we do also need to ensure that this is something the whole country is prepared to call out, to see and to fight against.\u201d<\/p>\n And that ends the press conference.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.08 EDT<\/p>\n The prime minister says British values \u201care not a gift handed down generation-to-generation, but something we earn each day\u201d.<\/p>\n Anti-semitism is an \u201cold, old hatred\u201d, Starmer says, adding that if you turn away, it grows back.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is racism, extreme racism and it has left a minority community in this country scared, intimidated and wondering if they belong,\u201d he adds, referring to anti-semitic slogans and chants at marches.<\/p>\n He says:<\/p>\n double quotation markOf course, we protect freedom of speech and peaceful protest in this country, but if you are marching with people wearing pictures of paragliders without calling it out, you are venerating the murder of Jews.<\/p>\n If you stand alongside people who say, \u2018globalise the Intifada\u2019, you are calling for terrorism against Jews, and people who use that phrase should be prosecuted.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.04 EDT<\/p>\n Attack was not a one-off but part of a series of attacks, says Starmer<\/p>\n Keir Starmer is now speaking from No 10 and says that \u201cthe truth is this attack is not a one-off, there has been a series of attacks.\u201d<\/p>\n He says people are scared to show who they are in their communities, to go to synagogues or send their Jewish children to school.<\/p>\n \u201cNobody should live like this in Great Britain but Jews do,\u201d he says, adding that the community security services worked with police to prevent a \u201cgreater tragedy\u201d yesterday.<\/p>\n The prime minister says the government will prevent hate preachers from entering the country, work with the justice system to speed up sentencing for anti-semitic attacks and use powers to tackle state-sponsored terrorism.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a010.51 EDT<\/p>\n Keir Starmer is expected to address the nation from Downing Street in the next 15 minutes.<\/p>\n The prime minister will provide an update on the government\u2019s response to the Golders Green terrorist attack.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Tory former prime minister Theresa May said she agreed with chief rabbi Ephraim Mirvis\u2019s warning that \u201cwords of condemnation are no longer sufficient\u201d after the north London double stabbing.<\/p>\n May wrote on X: \u201cYesterday\u2019s attack in Golders Green, and the escalating attacks of recent months, have shown, beyond doubt, that we must do more to protect our Jewish community.<\/p>\n \u201cWithout its Jews, Britain would not be Britain. In the first instance we must now see better policing of marches which have created a dangerous atmosphere of intimidation and violence.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Keir Starmer told Jewish people they belong in the UK in a social media post after visiting Golders Green.<\/p>\n The prime minister posted on X: \u201cYesterday\u2019s terror attack wasn\u2019t an isolated incident, it was the latest attack on the Jewish community for being Jewish.<\/p>\n \u201cToday I spoke with volunteers, first responders from Shomrim and Hatzola to thank them for their bravery. I know that this is a deeply worrying time for the whole community.<\/p>\n \u201cMy Government is taking immediate action. We\u2019ve increased enhanced funding for police patrols and protective security and we\u2019re fast-tracking legislation to deal with malign state actors.<\/p>\n \u201cMy message to Jewish people is this: you belong here, and we will do everything we can to keep you safe.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n The prime minister told volunteers at a Jewish community ambulance centre in Golders Green how much he \u201cappreciated\u201d their response to the suspected terror attack, PA reports.<\/p>\n Speaking to the group at Hatzola, Keir Starmer said the attacks \u201ccould have been a lot worse\u201d if it had not been for the work of the emergency personnel.<\/p>\n He added that he felt it was \u201creally important\u201d for him to come to Golders Green the day after the attack.<\/p>\n As the prime minister left the compound he was heckled by protesters organised by Stop the Hate, with one shouting that Starmer was a \u201ctraitor\u201d.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Here are some images from the newswires of Keir Starmer in Golders Green this afternoon.<\/p>\n The prime minister faced chants of \u201cKeir Starmer, Jew harmer\u201d from protesters as he visited the area to meet emergency services who responded to the knife attack in north London yesterday.<\/p>\n Prime minister Keir Starmer and Metropolitan police commissioner Sir Mark Rowley meet first responders from Shomrim during a visit to Golders Green. Photograph: WPA\/Getty ImagesStarmer shakes hands with a volunteer from Shomrim. Photograph: WPA\/Getty ImagesStarmer speaks to volunteers from Shomrim. Photograph: Stefan Rousseau\/ReutersProtesters hold up placards during Starmer\u2019s visit. Photograph: Stefan Rousseau\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Golders Green attack suspect named as Essa Suleiman, 45Vikram Dodd The suspect arrested by police over the Golders…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":559209,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[59,57,58,50,56,54,55],"class_list":["post-559208","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-united-kingdom","tag-gb","tag-great-britain","tag-greatbritain","tag-news","tag-uk","tag-united-kingdom","tag-unitedkingdom"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/559208","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=559208"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/559208\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/559209"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=559208"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=559208"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=559208"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"Rowena](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Rowena-Mason,-L.png\")
Rowena Mason<\/p>\nVikram Dodd<\/p>\nGolders Green attacker. Photograph:<\/p>\n