Golders Green stabbings no longer being treated as suspected terrorism

The stabbings of two Jewish men in Golders Green, north London, in April are being treated as an alleged hate crime not a terrorist attack, police have said.

Essa Suleiman, 45, was arrested by the Metropolitan police on suspicion of attempted murder shortly after the stabbings on 29 April.

At the time, police said they were treating the attacks, in an area with a large Jewish population, as suspected terrorist offences.

Suleiman has also been charged with attempted murder over the unconnected stabbing of another man earlier that same day.

On Friday, Suleiman appeared in court for a pre-trial hearing where he denied all charges and the prosecution said the case was no longer being treated as a suspected terrorism case.

In an email message sent to communities across London on Monday, the Met said: “At the hearing, the Crown Prosecution Service advised the court that it will not be pursuing a terrorist connection as part of the criminal proceedings.” They said they would treat it instead as a suspected hate crime.

“We understand this announcement may cause concern, particularly within the Jewish community, given the impact this incident had locally and against the backdrop of recent incidents affecting Jewish communities across London.

“We would like to reassure residents that the seriousness with which this matter is being treated has not changed.”

Cmdr Helen Flanagan, head of counter-terrorism policing for London, said: “I fully recognise the impact this incident has had on the three victims as well as the public, particularly the Jewish community.

“I’m also aware this news comes shortly after the arrests of two men in Manchester for a suspected plot to target the Jewish community during the High Holy Days period. Counter-terrorism policing continues to work closely with the Met police to provide as much visibility and security as we can to Jewish communities across London.”

The victims of the Golders Green attacks were Shloime Rand, 34, and Moshe Shine, 76.

The victim of the other stabbing earlier the same day in south London was Ishmail Hussein.

The case continues and the date for the full trial is scheduled for March 2027.