Full Breakdown
Police Use of Force in Golders Green Attack Draws Political Firestorm
5/2/2026, 2:43:17 AM
The Golders Green Stabbing and Police Response
On Wednesday morning in Golders Green, north London, 45-year-old Essa Suleiman stabbed two Jewish men, Shloime Rand, 34, and Moshe Shine, 76. Officers arrived, ordered the suspect to “get down on the ground” and “drop the knife”, Tasered him, and repeatedly kicked his head while wresting the knife. The Metropolitan Police later classified the incident a terrorist attack. The suspect remains in custody on suspicion of attempted murder. He also had a history of serious violence and mental-health issues.
Official Statements & Responses
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said the officers’ conduct was reasonable and praised them as exemplary, arguing their actions prevented further injury and saved lives. He warned against inflaming tensions with us-and-them rhetoric. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer noted officers may have feared an explosive device and emphasized the need to neutralise the suspect. The Met released body-camera footage showing repeated commands to get down and drop the knife, and stated the suspect continued to pose a clear threat after being Tasered.
Criticism, Opposition, and Conflicting Accounts
Dame Louise Ellman called Rowley’s comments “highly unusual” and said Polanski showed “gross misjudgement”. Welsh Green leader Anthony Slaughter called the repost “inappropriate”. Green deputy Rachel Millward praised the emergency services as brave, well-trained and commendable. Liberal Democrat Luke Taylor described Polanski’s repost as disgraceful and criticised the Green Party’s values. Polanski’s repost claimed the suspect was already incapacitated by the Taser, whereas Met statements assert he remained violent, refused to show his hands and continued to pose a clear threat. Video footage shows officers kicking the suspect’s head but does not clarify the exact point at which he became incapacitated.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Those officers are nothing short of extraordinary,” — Sir Mark Rowley, Metropolitan Police Commissioner
- “Essentially his officers were repeatedly and violently kicking a mentally ill man in the head when he was already incapacitated by Taser.” — Zack Polanski, Green Party leader (reposted)
- “utterly disgraceful” — Luke Taylor, Liberal Democrats London spokesperson
What Comes Next
The Metropolitan Police have announced an internal review of the Golders Green incident, with the use of force to be examined by oversight bodies. The controversy coincides with upcoming elections in Scotland, Wales and English councils, intensifying scrutiny of policing policy and political accountability. Parliamentary committees are expected to request evidence, and further findings from the Met’s investigation are due in the coming weeks.
