Golders Green stabbings reclassified as alleged hate crime, police say

The Metropolitan Police say the stabbings of two Jewish men in Golders Green, north London, are no longer being treated as a suspected terrorist attack. The attacks took place on April 29 in an area with a large Jewish population. Essa Suleiman, 45, was arrested shortly afterwards on suspicion of attempted murder and has also been charged over the unrelated stabbing of another man earlier that day.

At a pre-trial hearing on Friday, Suleiman denied all charges. The Crown Prosecution Service told the court it would not pursue a terrorist connection in the criminal proceedings. The Metropolitan Police said the case would instead be treated as a suspected hate crime.

The victims were identified as Shloime Rand, 34, and Moshe Shine, 76. The other alleged victim was Ishmail Hussein. The force said the change did not lessen the seriousness with which the matter was being handled.

Counter-terrorism policing commander Helen Flanagan acknowledged the impact on the victims and the Jewish community. Flanagan said police were aware of the announcement’s timing, following arrests in Manchester over a suspected plot targeting the Jewish community during the High Holy Days. She said counter-terrorism officers would continue working with the Met to provide security and visibility.

The full trial is scheduled for March 2027. The allegations have not been determined by the court.