London, United Kingdom. A 45-year-old man appeared in a London court on Friday charged with attempted murder over the stabbing of two Jewish men in Golders Green, north London, in what officers described as a suspected terrorist incident.
Court appearance and charges
Essa Suleiman appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court charged with two counts of the attempted murder of 34-year-old Shloime Rand and 76-year-old Moshe Shine, named in the charges as Norman Shine, as well as possession of a bladed article in relation to Wednesday’s attack. Suleiman, a British national born in Somalia, is also charged with attempted murder in relation to a separate incident earlier the same day in south London.
Prosecution account and next hearing
Suleiman appeared in the dock wearing a grey tracksuit as prosecutor Emma Harraway said he attacked a former friend in south London on Wednesday morning before carrying out an attack in north London later that day. He was remanded in custody and is due to appear at London’s Old Bailey court on May 15.
Victims’ condition
Police said Rand had been released from hospital, while Shine remained in a stable condition.
Security response and wider context
Following the attack, officials raised the national terrorism threat to its second-highest level, meaning a terrorist attack is highly likely within the next six months. The stabbings followed incidents targeting Jewish premises in the same area of north London, prompting Prime Minister Keir Starmer to vow stronger action to protect Jewish people. Pro-Palestinian marches due to take place in the future could now face new restrictions amid calls for more protection for Britain’s Jewish community of about 290,000.
What impact could the raised terrorism threat level have on public events and policing in your area?
