THE Area Bishop of Edmonton, in the diocese of London, Dr Anderson Jeremiah, has expressed shock and sadness after two Jewish men were stabbed in Golders Green, in north London, on Wednesday morning.
The incident occurred just after 11 a.m. in Highfield Avenue. The Metropolitan Police said in a statement that the men, one in his seventies and one in his thirties, were treated at the scene for stab wounds; both had been taken to hospital and were in a stable condition.
“The suspect also attempted to stab police officers, and was Tasered before being arrested. No officers were injured,” the statement said.
“A 45-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder. He was taken into custody, where he remains. We are working to establish his nationality and background. Specialist officers from Counter Terrorism Policing are leading the investigation and working with the Metropolitan Police to establish the full circumstances and any links to terrorism.”
Dr Jeremiah said in a statement on Wednesday lunchtime: “I am deeply shocked and saddened that, yet again, two of our Jewish neighbours have been targeted and stabbed by an individual driven by hatred and violence. While I am immensely relieved to hear they are currently receiving medical attention, the fact that such an atrocity has occurred in our community is devastating.”
He continued: “This was not just an attack on individuals, but on the safety and spirit of our entire neighbourhood. In the face of such darkness, our community must stand firm. We must respond with unwavering resilience and a commitment to the kind of love and unity that overcomes bigotry.”
Dr Jeremiah was among faith leaders to condemn an anti-Semitic attack on four ambulances belonging to a Jewish charity, in March (News, 27 March).
After another suspected arson incident, in Harrow, a few weeks later, the Archbishop of Canterbury later said that she was “appalled” by the growing aggression against Jewish communities in the UK (News, 24 April). “An attack on Jewish people is an attack on us all — we must stand together against the virulence of antisemitism that brings only violence, fear and hatred,” she said.
Later on Wednesday, Archbishop Mullally posted on social media about the Golders Green attack, saying that it was “another example of the violence, hatred and intimidation that Jewish people in Britain have had to live with for far too long. The victims are in my prayers, as are all those affected and the Jewish community across the country.”
She had met the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Sir Mark Rowley, the Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis, and other faith leaders at Lambeth Palace last week, she said, at which they had agreed that “there must be zero tolerance for antisemitism or any other form of hatred — and faith communities must work together urgently to counter violent extremism.
“We must stand together as a country. An attack on one community is an attack on us all.”
A statement from the Leeds Faith Forum, which is chaired by the Bishop of Kirkstall, the Rt Revd Arun Arora, said that, as a city representing many faith communities, “we stand in unity with our Jewish brothers and sisters in expressing our shock and distress at the attacks which have taken place today in London.
“Together we express with one voice our deep sadness and sorrow that yet again we have seen vicious anti-Semitism on the streets of our country and that Jews have yet again been the target of hatred.”
At an interfaith event earlier that week, the Forum continued, “we expressed our thankfulness for one another, our valued relationships and the co-operation between us in building community together. . .
“We stand united in solidarity against such hatred and violence and join our voices in prayer and compassion for all who are feeling fear this night as a result of these attacks. Our voices are united with theirs this night in lament and sorrow.”
This story was updated on 30 April with comment from the Archbishop of Canterbury and Leeds Faith Forum