THE man arrested over the Golders Green knife rampage was once accused of stabbing two officers and a police dog, it emerged last night.
, 45, was recently freed from a psychiatric unit under the Government’s Care in the Community programme — leading to questions about the supervision of the terror suspect.
Golders Green knife suspect Essa Suleiman was once accused of stabbing two cops and a police dog
Dad and grandad Neil — who has now retired after 28 years as a cop — told The Sun how he was stabbed 7 times Credit: Thomas Godfrey
commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said at the scene of the attacks the suspect had a history of violence and
The Met also revealed yesterday that concerns were raised about Suleiman’s extremist beliefs and that he was referred to the Prevent programme in 2020.
A source said the knife attack in North West London had “shades of the and
from “substantial” to “severe” — meaning an attack within the next six months was rated as “highly likely”.
Suleiman, 45, was recently freed from a psychiatric unit under the Government’s Care in the Community programme – pictured, the suspect wielding a knife in Golders Green Credit: X
Moment cops arrest the suspected knifeman in Golders Green Credit: X
Suleiman, a British citizen who came to this country from Somalia as a child in the 1990s, is said to have regularly attended
And it has emerged the former school security guard was once accused of a vicious knife attack while under the influence of drugs in Swindon, , in 2008.
Two officers, including PC Neil Sampson and his dog Anya, were attacked by a man with a huge knife, leaving PC Sampson needing 30 stitches for wounds to his head, face and leg.
German shepherd Anya was stabbed but made a full recovery.
The terror rampage yesterday unfolded in just four minutes Credit: X
Moshe Shine, one of the victims, was attacked while waiting to go home at the bus stop Credit: Supplied
Dad and grandad Neil — who has now retired after 28 years on the job — told The Sun last night: “I was stabbed seven times. I had a police dog biting him, I had colleagues coming in and helping, and he was being batoned, he was being sprayed, he was tasered.
“I thought he was punching me in the back of the head.
“But it was him stabbing me in the back of the head. When I say I’m lucky to be here, if that had hit the femoral artery, I’d be saying bye-bye.”
Sources said Suleiman was under the care of mental health services before the
Cops swooped and arrested the suspect – who had been ‘immobilised’ by local heroes Credit: x.com/CharlieZtuker
Cops had to hold back protesters as the PM arrived in Golders Green today Credit: AFP
Rabbi Solomon Rand, 34, was stabbed in the chest, with his heart narrowly missed, and 76-year-old was stabbed in the neck at a bus stop.
Mr Rand, from Stamford Hill, North London, told the : “I’ve had a stab to my chest, and, yes, my lungs have to recover.
“I hope I’ll be better soon.”
He called on the Government — which yesterday pledged an extra £25million to protect the Jewish community — to “pull their socks up” to tackle antisemitism, saying: “It can no longer be ignored by the Government.
“People are afraid.”
The national terror threat level was raised to severe yesterday by the Government’s Joint Analysis Centre over concerns about Islamist and extreme right-wing individuals and groups.
Last night police were still questioning Suleiman after his arrest on suspicion of attempted murder.
Counter-terror police are leading the inquiry with .
One source said: “The has shades of Nottingham and Southport in as much as the suspect was known to mental health services.”
Southport killer and had been discharged from mental health services six days before he murdered three young girls at a dance class in 2024.
Paranoid schizophrenic before he killed Barnaby Webber, Grace O’Malley-Kumar and Ian Coates in 2023.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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