Police
declare Golders Green stabbing a terrorist incident
Police
have said the stabbing of two men in north London is being treated as a
terrorist incident, with officers investigating whether the attack deliberately
targeted the Jewish community.
Speaking
outside Scotland Yard on Wednesday, head of counter terrorism olicing Laurence
Taylor confirmed that the stabbing has been formally declared to be terrorism.
He said:
This
has now formally been declared a terrorist incident. Our highly specialised
teams of officers are working with the Metropolitan Police to progress this
investigation quickly and establish exactly what has happened.
We’re
also working with our partners in the security services to ensure we have a
full intelligence picture, and one of the lines of inquiry is whether this
attack was deliberately targeting the Jewish community in London.
Updated
at
10.34 EDT
1m ago
11.20 EDT
Knifeman
had 'history of serious violence and mental health issues', says Met
commissioner
The
suspected Golders Green knifeman had “a history of serious violence and mental
health issues”, the Metropolitan Police commissioner said.
Speaking
at the scene amid heckles of “resign” and “shame on you”, Mark Rowley said:
The
45-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, and remains
in custody following a check up at the local hospital. He has a history of
serious violence and mental health issues, and that investigation continues.
He went
on to praise his officers for confronting the suspect, who they thought might
be carrying an explosive, saying:
My first
thoughts are with the two British Jews, who were attacked whilst going about
their daily lives, which they should be able to do freely and safely in their
own local community. I also want to pay tribute to my officers, who were on the
scene within a few minutes, and whose actions undoubtedly prevented further
injury and saved lives.
Before
coming here today, I met with them. They’re nothing short of extraordinary.
They confronted a man they believed to be a terrorist, who refused to show his
hands, who was violent and continued to pose a clear threat. These were not
armed officers, and they feared that he was carrying an explosive device.
Using
only their training, their courage and their tasers, they managed to detain
him, whilst he continues to try and attack and stab them. They will tell you
they were simply doing their jobs but without their bravery, I dread to think
what the outcome would have been.
I also
want to recognise the extraordinary voluntary first responders from the
community, including the Shomrim.
7m ago
11.14 EDT
Prime
minister calls Cobra meeting in aftermath of latest attack on Jewish community
The prime
minister has called a Cobra meeting following the stabbing of two Jewish men in
Golders Green, north London, local MP and justice minister Sarah Sackman said.
It comes
as the home secretary Shabana Mahmood said she would “strain every sinew” to
keep Jewish people safe following the “horrifying” suspected terror attack in
Golders Green.
34m ago
10.47 EDT
Terrorism
policing assistant commissioner Laurence Taylor said one of the lines of
inquiry is whether the Golders Green attack was “deliberately targeting the
Jewish community”.
He told
reporters:
I
would like to praise the bravery of the police officers and members of the
public who were at the scene and responded.
At
11.16am this morning, two men, aged 76 and 34, were attacked on Highfield
Avenue in Barnet. They suffered stab wounds in the attack, and are now being
looked after in hospital.
Metropolitan
Police officers responding to the incident were also attacked, leading to the
tasering and arrest of a 45-year-old man. He was arrested on suspicion of
attempted murder, and he remains in police custody. And Counter Terrorism
Policing are now leading the investigation.
He added:
I can
also confirm that this has now formally been declared a terrorist incident. Our
highly-specialised teams of officers are working with the Metropolitan Police
to progress this investigation quickly and establish exactly what has happened.
We’re
also working with our partners in the security services to ensure we have a
full intelligence picture. And one of the lines of inquiry is whether this
attack was deliberately targeting the Jewish community in London.
Now,
that community are strong, but they will be incredibly concerned to see and
hear what has happened today, particularly in the wake of other incidents in
recent weeks. And that concern will be felt not just in the capital, but in
communities and homes across the UK.
I want
to make it clear, that counter terrorism policing and police forces up and down
the country are mobilising to provide additional support and reassurance.
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