Two Jewish men stabbed in London terror attack; PM Starmer calls emergency COBRA meeting
Synopsis
British counter-terrorism police have declared the stabbing of two Jewish men on Golders Green Road a terror attack — the latest in a series of antisemitic assaults that also includes arson attacks on ambulances, a synagogue petrol bomb, and seven arrests over an alleged arson plot. PM Starmer called an emergency COBRA meeting and said the violence is not isolated.
Key Takeaways
Two Jewish men, aged 76 and 34 , were stabbed on Golders Green Road , north-west London, on 30 April .
British counter-terrorism police have formally declared the incident a terror attack .
The suspect, a 45-year-old man with "a history of serious violence and mental health issues," was Tasered and arrested on suspicion of attempted murder .
PM Keir Starmer convened an emergency COBRA meeting and vowed government action against antisemitism.
The stabbing follows arson attacks on ambulances ( 23 March ), a synagogue petrol bomb ( 18 April ), and the arrest of seven people over an alleged arson plot ( 21 April ).
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced an enhanced police presence to protect London's Jewish community.
Two Jewish pedestrians were stabbed by a knife-wielding man on 30 April in the Golders Green Road area of north-west London, in what British counter-terrorism police have formally declared a terror attack. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer convened an emergency COBRA meeting and said the assault was "not an isolated incident" but "the latest in a spate of utterly vile attacks on the Jewish community."
What Happened on Golders Green Road
According to Xinhua news agency, the attacker randomly targeted Jewish pedestrians as he moved along Golders Green Road armed with a knife. Community watch group Shomrim posted on social media that the suspect was "running along Golders Green Road armed with a knife and attempting to stab Jewish members of the public."
Police officers who responded to the scene were also attacked. The suspect was subsequently subdued with a Taser and arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, the Metropolitan Police confirmed, adding that he remains in custody.
The Victims and the Suspect
The two victims, aged 76 and 34, suffered stab wounds and were hospitalised, said Laurence Taylor, Head of Counter Terrorism Policing at the Metropolitan Police. The suspect is a 45-year-old man. Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mark Rowley said the suspect has "a history of serious violence and mental health issues."
Government and Royal Response
Following the COBRA meeting, Prime Minister Starmer said his government would act to make the local Jewish community feel safe and would fight antisemitism. London Mayor Sadiq Khan said the capital's Jewish community has faced "a series of shocking antisemitic attacks" and stressed that "there must be absolutely no place for antisemitism in society."
King Charles III, currently on a state visit to the United States, has been kept fully informed and is reportedly "deeply concerned" about the incident, according to British media. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said an enhanced police presence had been deployed and pledged to "strain every sinew" to protect the Jewish community.
A Pattern of Antisemitic Violence in London
This stabbing follows a disturbing series of antisemitic incidents in north-west London. On 23 March, four volunteer-led ambulances in Golders Green were set on fire, causing explosions — three people were charged earlier this month in connection with that case. A suspected arson attack involving a memorial wall was reported in the same area on Monday; that case is under investigation by counter-terrorism police but is not currently being treated as terrorism.
On 21 April, police announced that seven people had been arrested over an alleged plan to carry out an arson attack against the Jewish community, though the exact target remained unclear. On the same day, a 17-year-old boy pleaded guilty to carrying out a petrol bomb attack at a synagogue in Kenton, north-west London, on 18 April.
What Comes Next
With counter-terrorism police now leading the investigation and an enhanced security presence on the ground, authorities are under mounting pressure to demonstrate that the wave of antisemitic violence in London can be contained. The coming days are likely to see further arrests and a renewed political debate over hate-crime legislation and community protection measures.
Point of View
A synagogue petrol bomb, a foiled arson plot, and now a street stabbing — all within weeks, all in the same north-west London corridor. A COBRA meeting and enhanced patrols are reactive measures; the harder question is whether intelligence failures allowed a suspect with a documented history of serious violence to remain at large. The political pressure on Starmer is compounding: his government must demonstrate that its antisemitism response is structural, not merely rhetorical.
NationPress
1 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in the London Jewish stabbing on 30 April 2025?
Two Jewish pedestrians, aged 76 and 34, were stabbed by a knife-wielding man on Golders Green Road in north-west London on 30 April. British counter-terrorism police formally declared the incident a terror attack, and the 45-year-old suspect was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.
Who is the suspect in the Golders Green Road terror attack?
The suspect is a 45-year-old man who was subdued with a Taser and arrested at the scene. Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mark Rowley said he has 'a history of serious violence and mental health issues.' He remains in custody.
What did PM Keir Starmer say about the London stabbing?
Prime Minister Keir Starmer convened an emergency COBRA meeting and said the attack was 'not an isolated incident' but 'the latest in a spate of utterly vile attacks on the Jewish community.' He pledged government action to make London's Jewish community feel safe and to fight antisemitism.
What other antisemitic attacks have occurred in London recently?
A series of incidents preceded the stabbing: on 23 March, four volunteer-led ambulances in Golders Green were set on fire; on 18 April, a 17-year-old carried out a petrol bomb attack on a synagogue in Kenton; and on 21 April, seven people were arrested over an alleged arson plot targeting the Jewish community.
How is the UK government responding to the rise in antisemitic attacks in London?
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced an enhanced police presence in affected areas. PM Starmer's government has pledged to fight antisemitism following an emergency COBRA meeting. Counter-terrorism police are leading investigations into several of the recent incidents.
