‘We keep looking over our shoulders’: Golders Green residents speak of fear after terror stabbing
Speaking to Jewish News, community members describe rising anxiety, anger and exhaustion after two Jewish men were attacked in the heart of north-west London
“We have to keep looking over our shoulders and be more alert.”
The words, spoken by a Golders Green resident standing just streets away from Wednesday’s stabbing scene, reflected a feeling repeated again and again by those living in one of Britain’s largest Jewish communities.
Residents, volunteers and community figures in Golders Green have spoken of fear, frustration and growing insecurity after two Jewish men were stabbed in an attack now being treated by police as terrorism.
The incident unfolded on Wednesday morning when a man allegedly ran through the area armed with a knife, targeting members of the public in one of Britain’s largest Jewish neighbourhoods.
Police were called to Highfield Avenue at 11:16am following reports of multiple stabbings.
Two men – aged in their 30s and 70s – were treated at the scene before being taken to hospital in a stable condition.
Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis later gave the Hebrew names of the victims as Nachman Moshe ben Chaya Sarah and Moshe Ben Baila, asking the public to pray for their recovery.
The men were identified locally as Shlomo Rand, 34, and Moshe Shine, 76.
A 45-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after police said he also attempted to stab officers before being tasered.
Police said Counter Terrorism Policing has taken over the investigation. The stabbings come amid heightened concern in Golders Green following a series of incidents affecting Jewish sites and organisations in recent months, including an alleged arson attack near a memorial wall and the destruction of four Jewish community ambulances earlier this year.
For many local residents, the latest violence has deepened an already growing sense of unease.
Shomrim volunteer Sam Denciger said members of the neighbourhood watch group were dispatched within minutes after emergency calls came through.
He told Jewish News: “It is very, very worrying to see how terrorism against Jews is escalating from day to day.
“We were here within minutes, working together with the police.
My kids are scared. My wife is scared to send the kids out.
“She says you never know who else is going to be out there. It’s scary.”
Denciger said stronger policing and intelligence gathering were needed to reassure communities.
“The government definitely has to do more.”
He welcomed the government’s announcement of increased security funding for the Jewish community but said resources also needed to reach frontline volunteer organisations.
“It will definitely help,” he said of the £25 million uplift.
“But police officers need to be looked after, better equipped.”
The Home Office has since confirmed that Shomrim will receive government funding as part of the increased security package.
A spokesperson said discussions had already been taking place before the attack about extending support to the volunteer patrol organisation, which had not previously received direct government funding.
One resident, who flew back from a trip to Poland last night, had just left Auschwitz with a group of teenagers when news of the attack broke. He said the moment felt deeply symbolic.
“Everyone was thinking that could have been me at the bus stop,” he said.
“There’s still a huge hatred, and we are feeling unsafe.”
He said many people were questioning their future in Britain.
My family’s been here for nine generations, and I don’t think it’s going to be a tenth,” he said.
Asked what would make him feel safer, he said visible action mattered more than statements.
“We need to see things actually being stopped,” he said.
“Every time these things happen, they say it’s going to stop. Then another attack happens.”
Another resident said the attack reflected how unpredictable life now felt.
“It reminds us how unpredictable everything is,” he said.
“We have to keep looking over our shoulders and be more alert.:
Baruch Stern, owner of Gross Butcher in Golders Green, said concern within the community had been building for months.
“I think the feeling across the community as a whole is very worrying,” he told Jewish News.
“Everybody in the community is extremely disappointed with the action of the government.
The statements from Westminster are encouraging, but they are very empty. Action needs to be more substantial.
Stern said many Jewish residents no longer felt fully comfortable walking alone.
“It’s very worrying, very scary for a lot of people,” he said.
Asked whether British Jews had a long-term future in the UK, he replied: “Not the way it’s going.”
He said increased security funding was welcome but would not, on its own, restore confidence.
“£25 million is not really going to make me feel safer,” he said.
“If we saw the government taking more action against antisemites, that would make me feel safer.”
Lisa Marlowe, whose 26-year-old son Jake was murdered at the Nova music festival in Israel on 7 October, said the attack was sadly inevitable.
“We all expected it to come and we all expected it to happen,” she said.
“It’s antisemitic, and those in power need to do something.”
Although she said she refused to live in fear, she described a growing sense of disbelief at the number of incidents affecting Jewish communities.
“I don’t feel scared. I won’t let them make me feel scared,” she said.
Speaking about the recent fire near the memorial wall, she added: “It’s absolutely disgraceful.
“I don’t understand what kind of world we’re living in.”
Simon Tobi, one of Reform UK’s local government candidates in Golders Green, said the attack had left many people feeling unsettled.
“The community here feel very threatened and shocked, even though some parts of it feel that it was expected.
“Now we just need to have some action.”
Tobi said the government’s funding announcement was welcome but argued stronger measures were still needed.
“I do think that will help. It’s something,” he said.
“But stronger action is needed.”
Asked whether he felt safe walking through Golders Green, he added: “I’m definitely more worried than I was before.
I need to watch my back and be much more careful and vigilant.
Tobi said that if elected locally, he would push for stronger visible policing and greater action aimed at tackling antisemitic violence.
“We need more police presence,” he said.
“We need more action at the source to prevent this Jew hatred and see stronger action in the areas that are needed.”
New details have also emerged about the suspect’s background.
According to the BBC, the 45-year-old man had previously been referred to the government’s Prevent counter-extremism programme.
The suspect, who has not been named, is understood to be a British citizen born in Somalia who came to the UK legally as a child in the early 1990s.
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said the man had a “history of serious violence and mental health issues”.
Speaking at the scene, Rowley said: “This is another horrendous act of violence directed at our Jewish communities, which follows the targeted series of arson attacks, and it will rightly shock and anger people across London, in the immediate communities, and across the country.
“My first thoughts are with the two British Jews who were attacked while going about their daily lives, as they should be able to do freely and safely in their own local community.”
Police are continuing to search an address in south-east London as part of the investigation.
Buckingham Palace said King Charles was being kept informed of developments.
A palace spokesperson said His Majesty was “deeply concerned about the attack and its impact on the Jewish community.
“His thoughts and prayers are with the two individuals who were injured, and offers his heartfelt gratitude to those who so selflessly rushed to their aid,” the spokesperson said.
Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer also described the stabbings as an “appalling attack” after holding a Cobra meeting following the incident.
He said: “Let’s be frank, this is not an isolated incident. There’s been a series of antisemitic attacks, and I know first-hand the anxiety that that is causing in the community and concern.”
The Community Security Trust thanked Shomrim, Hatzola and police for their response, while urging anyone with information to come forward.
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