By Elena Giuliano
Updated on: May 1, 2026 / 3:12 AM EDT
The U.K. government elevated the national terrorism threat level from “substantial” to “severe” on Thursday after a stabbing in Golders Green, northwest London, left two Jewish men injured. Officials cited rising risks from both Islamist and extreme right-wing terrorism as reasons for the change.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood described the attack as “abhorrent” and a “vile act of terrorism,” acknowledging heightened fears within the Jewish community. The Metropolitan Police said on Friday that 45-year-old Essa Suleiman has been charged with two counts of attempted murder in connection with the Golders Green incident. Suleiman, a British national born in Somalia who grew up in the U.K., also faces a separate attempted murder charge for an earlier Wednesday attack elsewhere in London that caused only minor injuries. Police have declared the events terrorist incidents.
Government officials stressed the decision to raise the threat level reflected a broader trend. “The increase in threat comes following yesterday’s stabbing in Golders Green in North London, but it is not solely a result of that attack. The terrorist threat level in the UK has been rising for some time,” the government said.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan offered support to Jewish residents and said authorities were taking steps to bolster protection across the city. The “severe” rating is the second-highest level of alert in the U.K., indicating that an attack is considered highly likely.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer visited Golders Green on Thursday, meeting emergency responders and community members as some residents staged protests demanding greater security. The stabbing came a month after an arson attack in the same neighborhood that damaged four vehicles belonging to an independent Jewish community ambulance service.
“No one here is shocked or surprised that this has happened,” said Dov Forman, a 22-year-old author and activist from the area. “We all knew after previous attacks that this was not a question of if there would be another attack, but simply when.”
Authorities continue to investigate the incidents and have appealed for any witnesses or information to assist inquiries.
Inaya Folarin Iman contributed to this report.