Counter terrorism police in the UK investigating the Golders Green stabbing have said they are searching an address in southeast London after it was reported the suspect had been involved in a prior "altercation" with another person.
Two Jewish men - Shilome Rand, 34, and 76-year-old Mosche Ben Baila, named locally as Moshe Shine -were taken to hospital after being stabbed in the north London suburb yesterday, in what has been declared a terrorist incident.
Scotland Yard said the 45-year-old suspect is a British national, born in Somalia.
Officers are searching an address in southeast London, and detectives are investigating another incident reported to police earlier yesterday, the force said.
The Met said officers were called to an address in Great Dover Street, Southwark, at around 8.50am, after a suspect armed with a knife is believed to have had an altercation with the occupant before leaving.
The occupant suffered minor injuries, but the suspect was not found and officers believe he is the same man arrested in Golders Green.
Mr Rand said that he had just left his local synagogue and was on his way to work, when he was stabbed in the chest.
He said: "This fellow came towards me and just stabbed me in the chest... I jumped back, so thankfully it was only one stab. It could have taken my life.
"All afternoon I've had calls and texts coming in, people are really afraid, people are uncomfortable walking in the streets. People are blaming obviously the government.
"You know they aren’t doing anything about what’s going on for the past few months. Really our community is suffering from these kind of attacks and now they’re trying to take people’s lives."
Mr Rand said he was initially told that he would need emergency surgery, but that his wound was not as bad as first feared.
He added: "I am here and I can talk, and it’s really a miracle that has happened to me today."
Footage of the Golders Green attack posted online appears to show a man waiting at a bus stop putting on a kippah before an attacker lunges at him.
Another clip shows two police officers facing down the knife man in the middle of the road, before using a Taser and kicking him repeatedly in the head.
Body-worn footage released by the Metropolitan Police shows the moment their officers came face to face with the suspect who could be seen walking towards them.
The officers could be heard shouting "get down on the ground" before tasering the man and grappling with him as they could be heard to shout repeatedly "drop the knife".
A member of the public could also be seen intervening and helping to apprehend the suspect.
"The suspect refused to show his hands, was violent and continued to pose a clear threat," the force said.
Britain’s most senior police officer, Mark Rowley, said that the suspect has a history of serious violence and mental health problems.
Commissioner Rowley told journalists that two police officers who tasered and arrested the knifeman believed he had a bomb when they confronted him.
But he and Sarah Sackman, the Labour MP for Finchley and Golders Green, were heckled with calls to resign by members of the public as they gave statements at the scene.
Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis warned "words of condemnation are no longer sufficient", adding "this is a hatred that we must face down together".
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer acknowledged the attack was the latest in a string of antisemitic incidents following a Cobra meeting.
Mr Starmer 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.
"I was at Kenton synagogue last week where I heard a lot about that level of anxiety. It’ll be worse after today.
"We’re very much in touch with the community, and I’ll visit as soon as possible."
'We are terrified,' says Jewish community leader Debbie Fox
The prime minister suggested that the government would deal with "the root causes of extremism and antisemitism".
He also told broadcasters that he would meet criminal justice agencies today.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood pledged that the government would "strain every sinew" to keep Jewish people safe.
The scene is around half a mile from a memorial wall where an attempted arson attack took place on Monday, and near to where four Jewish community ambulances were destroyed by fire in late March.
These are among a number of alleged arson attacks on Jewish sites in London in recent weeks, with a group called Hayi claiming responsibility.
It has also said it is responsible for the stabbing, although this is being treated with some scepticism due to the differing nature of the knife attack.
The other incidents involve arson or attempted arson, and one where a drone was flown near the Israeli embassy.
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said there are "terrorists and violent people who are seeking out visibly Jewish people", adding: "This is a national emergency."
A demonstration is being organised by the Campaign Against Antisemitism this evening outside Downing Street.
The suspect was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and remains in custody after being checked over at hospital.
