North London Stabbing Attack Declared Terrorism by Metropolitan Police

Two men were wounded in a knife attack in north London on Wednesday that authorities have officially designated as a terrorist incident, prompting a major counterterrorism investigation to determine if the Jewish community was deliberately targeted.

Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, the Metropolitan Police’s counterterrorism chief, confirmed the terrorism classification as investigators work to establish the motive behind the attack in the Barnet borough, an area known for its significant Jewish population.

Police responded to reports of multiple stabbings on Highfield Avenue around 11:16 a.m., with local and armed officers quickly arriving alongside the London Ambulance Service. A 45-year-old man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of attempted murder and remains in custody while authorities work to determine his nationality and background.

The victims, aged 76 and 34, received immediate treatment for stab wounds before being transported to a hospital, where they are currently receiving care. According to Detective Chief Superintendent Luke Williams, officers “swiftly Tasered and arrested the suspect before he could cause further harm” after the man also reportedly attacked responding police officers.

“Whilst I must stress this investigation is at an early stage, we are working quickly to understand exactly what happened,” Taylor told reporters at the scene. Counterterrorism officers are leading the probe, collaborating with security services to establish the full circumstances and develop a complete intelligence picture.

The stabbing occurred near Golders Green, an area with a large Jewish community, raising concerns about potential antisemitic motivation. Shomrim, a volunteer neighborhood watch group serving Orthodox Jewish communities, reported on social media that the suspect was “armed with a knife” on Golders Green Road and was detained by community members before police arrived. The group claimed the attacker attempted to target Jewish members of the public, though police have not independently confirmed this detail.

The incident occurs against a backdrop of escalating antisemitic incidents across the United Kingdom. According to the Community Security Trust, reported antisemitic incidents in the UK rose to 3,700 in 2025, up from 1,662 in 2022, with a significant increase following the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel and the subsequent Gaza conflict.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the violence, characterizing attacks on Jewish residents as “an attack on Britain,” while London Mayor Sadiq Khan emphasized there is “no place for antisemitism” in the city.

Conservative MP Kemi Badenoch described the situation as critical, stating: “Jewish people in our country are under constant attack. This is no longer a growing pattern. There is an epidemic of violence against Jewish people. It is now a national emergency and needs to be treated as such by the Government and public authorities.”

Dov Forman, a Golders Green resident and Holocaust educator, expressed deep concern about what he sees as part of a broader trend. “Yet again, terror has been brought to our doorstep here in Golders Green, in the heart of London’s Jewish community,” Forman said. He suggested extremist rhetoric and Islamist extremism have contributed to an environment where “hatred against Jews is increasingly normalized, unchecked, and dangerously emboldened.”

Israeli President Isaac Herzog also responded to the attack, saying he was “horrified by yet another violent attack on Jews in broad daylight on the streets of London” and calling for urgent action. “No Jew anywhere in the world should be a target because of their faith,” Herzog stated, urging authorities to act “before the next antisemitic attack occurs.”

Police have promised to maintain a visible presence in the area to reassure residents and continue their investigation. They have urged anyone with information about the incident to come forward as they consider all possible motives behind the attack.