Man charged with attempted murder of two Jewish men in Golders Green

A 45-year-old man has been charged with attempted murder following an incident in which two Jewish men were stabbed in Golders Green, north London, on Wednesday.

Essa Suleiman is accused of the assault on 34-year-old Shloime Rand and 76-year-old Moshe Shine, and is currently in custody.

Both victims sustained serious injuries and were subsequently hospitalized. The Metropolitan Police have classified the incident as a terrorist act.

Suleiman, originally from Somalia, immigrated to the UK lawfully as a child in the early 1990s and is now a British citizen, according to official sources.

He is set to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Friday, facing two counts of attempted murder and one count of possession of a bladed article in a public place.

Additionally, he has been charged with attempted murder in connection to a separate incident that occurred on the same day in Southwark, located in south-east London, as stated by the Met Police.

In response to the stabbing, the UK's terror threat level was elevated to "severe" on Thursday. The government noted that the threat level has been increasing "for some time," emphasizing that the recent changes in status were "not solely" attributable to this week's events.

Met Police chief Sir Mark Rowley discussed on BBC Breakfast his proposal to the government, outlining the measures necessary to provide enhanced protections for Jewish communities in the long term.

He indicated that the police force is considering the recruitment of 300 additional officers, although he refrained from disclosing the associated costs.

"There are constructive conversations with the government, and they recognize the need for prompt action," he remarked.

"Reallocating resources from other duties across London is not a sustainable long-term solution."

Cdr Helen Flanagan, who leads Counter Terrorism Policing in London, urged the public to refrain from speculation regarding this case to ensure that justice can proceed appropriately.

She confirmed that specialized officers are offering ongoing support to the victims as they continue their recovery from the attacks on Wednesday.