The suspect arrested in Wednesday’s stabbing attack on two Jewish men in Golders Green has been identified as Essa Suleiman, a 45-year-old Somali-born British resident with a documented history of serious violence and previous contact with government counter-extremism programs.

Suleiman came to Britain legally as a child in the 1990s and reportedly worked as a security guard at a school in Swindon and lived in Camberwell, south London. He was referred to the Prevent counter-extremism scheme in 2020, though his case was closed later that year.

Police were already searching for Suleiman on Wednesday morning in connection with a separate knife attack in Southwark less than three hours before the Golders Green stabbing. In that earlier incident, a man armed with a knife injured one person during an altercation.

Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley stated that Suleiman has “a history of serious violence and mental health issues.” Court records show he was previously convicted of a brutal 2008 attack on police officer Neil Sampson, whom he stabbed repeatedly in the head, face and leg with a bread knife. Sampson’s police dog was also struck in the chest. A judge imposed an indeterminate sentence, ruling Suleiman should serve at least four and a half years before being considered for release.

On Wednesday, Suleiman stabbed two Jewish men near a shul in the heavily Jewish neighborhood. Officers supported by Shomrim, a Jewish security group, Tasered and arrested him after he attempted to attack police while still carrying a knife.

The attack has intensified pressure on Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who was heckled by approximately 100 protesters chanting “Keir Starmer, Jew harmer” as he visited the community on Thursday. Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis warned that “words of condemnation are no longer sufficient” and called for “meaningful action” to address the root causes of antisemitism.

In response, Starmer acknowledged that Jewish people are “scared to show who they are in their community, scared to go to synagogue and practice their religion.” The government announced it would increase police presence in Jewish communities and fast-track legislation to counter domestic threats posed by foreign states including Iran.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)