Golders Green terror suspect named as Somali-born Brit with a history of 'serious violence and mental health issues'
Suleiman, 45, a Somali-born British national, was arrested on Wednesday after allegedly stabbing Shloime Rand, 34, and Moshe Ben Baila, 76
The man suspected of stabbing two Jewish people in Golders Green has been named as Essa Suleiman.
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Suleiman, 45, a Somali-born British national, was arrested on Wednesday after allegedly stabbing Shloime Rand, 34, and Moshe Ben Baila, 76.
Counter-terror police are leading the investigation and treating the stabbings as a terror attack.
Metropolitan Police commissioner Sir Mark Rowley will appear on LBC's Nick Ferrari at Breakfast on Friday, Live from 7am.
Scotland Yard have confirmed that the suspect was a Somalian-born British citizen and has a history of "serious violence and mental health issues". He was referred to Prevent in 2020, but his case was closed later that year.
Police have stepped up patrols across the UK in response to yesterday's attack, which saw both victims taken to hospital.
The suspect carried out the attack on at 11.15am on Wednesday, with one witness describing him walking away from the scene while one of the victims bled from his neck.
He then attempted to stab two police officers, with Bodycam footage showing the knifeman approach the pair before being Tasered.
The man, who was wearing a blue puffer jacket and a rucksack, eventually collapsed to the ground.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer was greeted with chants of “Keir Starmer, Jew harmer” as he visited Golders Green on Thursday to meet emergency services who responded to the terrorist attack.
Up to 100 furious demonstrators shouted "shame on you" and "traitor" at the PM as he arrived at the scene in north London.
Many protesters brandished signs criticising the Prime Minister outside Hatzola ambulance station, including one showing former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn holding a face mask of Sir Keir.
Meanwhile, Green Party leader Zack Polanski was criticised after he retweeted a social media post criticising the police officers who took down the Golders Green attacker.
Mr Polanski reshared a post on X that was critical of the two police officers who took down the 45-year-old.
It read: "So essentially his officers were repeatedly and violently kicking a mentally ill man in the head when he was already incapacitated by taser."
The Met Police have been responding to comments on Twitter criticising their actions in detaining the attacker on Wednesday.
They say that it took "true courage" to confront the man.
They wrote on social media: "Our brave officers confronted a man they believed to be a terrorist, who refused to show his hands, who was violent, and who continued to pose a clear threat.
"Using only their training, courage and tasers, they detained him while he continued to try to attack and stab them.
"This took true courage."