LONDON (VINnews) — A police officer previously attacked by the suspect in the Golders Green stabbing said he warned years ago the man could reoffend.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said the suspect has “a history of serious violence and mental health issues.”

Sky News reported the suspect, identified as Essa Suleiman, was jailed in 2008 for stabbing a police officer and his dog in Swindon. He was sentenced to nine years for grievous bodily harm and served at least half of that term.

Former constable Neil Sampson, who was injured in the 2008 attack, said he raised concerns at the time about Suleiman’s potential release.

“I voiced my fear that he could reoffend and I just hoped that if he did reoffend that the victims were as lucky as I was,” Sampson told Sky News. “As it turns out, they were.”

Suleiman has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder following the Golders Green attack, in which two men were wounded. The investigation is ongoing.

Essa Suleiman stabbed PC Neil Sampson and Anya, his dog. They were lucky to survive. We seem to apply an absurd tolerance threshold for foreign-born violent criminals and terrorists. No wonder people are migrating to parties which simply say: ‘Deport.’ pic.twitter.com/eowYMBFWlc

— Adrian Hilton (@Adrian_Hilton) April 30, 2026