Authorities in Britain on Friday charged a 45-year-old man with the stabbing deaths of two Jewish men in London’s Golders Green community.
A 34-year-old man and a 76-year-old man were injured in the attack on Wednesday. One of the victims has been released from the hospital and the other is in stable condition.
Subsequently, the British government raised the national terrorism threat to its second highest level, indicating that officials believe a terrorist attack is highly likely within the next six months.
Metropolitan Police chief Mark Rowley said it was “yet another horrific act of violence against our Jewish communities.”
The Golders Green attack has been described as a terrorist act.
What do we know about the attacker?
Essa S., a Somalia-born British citizen who lives in London, is expected to make his first court appearance later on Friday.
He has been charged with two counts of attempt to murder and one count of possessing a bladed article in a public place in connection with the attack in Golders Green.
But he has also been booked for a third case of attempt to murder in an incident that took place elsewhere in the city on the same day, in which a person was slightly injured.
Police said the suspect was referred to the government’s prevention program which aims to prevent radicalization of individuals. However, he said his file was later closed without any reason.
The Golders Green stabbing is the latest in a series of attacks on London’s Jewish community. There have been several arson attacks on synagogues and other Jewish sites in London in recent weeks.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has pledged that authorities will increase protection for the Jewish community and “do everything in our power to end this hatred.”
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said that “London’s Jewish community has been the target of a series of shocking anti-Semitic attacks” and that “there should be absolutely no place for anti-Semitism in society.”
Edited by: Alex Berry