The Metropolitan Police have released dramatic body camera footage capturing the moment officers apprehended the suspect of a terrorist attack in north London, in which two men were stabbed.
Attack Details
Two individuals, aged 76 and 34, were stabbed shortly after 11am on Wednesday, April 29 in Golders Green. One victim, Shilome Rand, was stabbed in the chest while leaving a synagogue. The stabbings represent the latest in a string of attacks targeting the Jewish community in London.
Arrest Footage
A 45-year-old man, identified as a British national of Somali origin, is in custody after being Tasered by officers. The footage released by the Met depicts the moments preceding his arrest. Officers can be heard repeatedly shouting "drop the knife" before a Taser is deployed and the suspect falls to the ground. He is continuously instructed to "drop the knife" as the force claims he attempted to attack and stab them. Amid the commotion, a voice can be heard saying "yeah I got it" as the knife flies to the right of the suspect, who remains on the ground. The footage concludes with the suspect being placed in handcuffs as he is informed he is under arrest on suspicion of attempted murder.
Police Statement
Alongside the footage shared online, the Met stated: "Watch as police officers confront a man suspected of carrying out a terrorist attack in north London where two men were stabbed. The suspect refused to show his hands, was violent and continued to pose a clear threat. Using only their training, courage and tasers, they detained him while he continued to try to attack and stab them. This took true courage."
Official Reactions
These remarks echo earlier statements from Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley, who lauded the officers' actions following a personal meeting with them. "They are nothing short of extraordinary," he said. "They will tell you they were simply doing their jobs, but without their bravery, I dread to think what the outcome could have been."
The assault has sent shockwaves through the local community, with Jewish leaders asserting that 'this feels relentless'. Numerous prominent political figures have also voiced their 'concern' in the wake of the incident, with Prince William and Kate confirming they are monitoring the situation closely and "are, of course, concerned about the attacks upon the Jewish community".
Victim's Account
Victim Rand, who remains hospitalised while recovering from his wounds, told ITV News: "People are really concerned, people are afraid, people are uncomfortable walking in the street, people are blaming obviously the government for not doing anything about what's going on. It's for the past few months really that our community is suffering from these type of attacks. And now it's going on and trying to take people's lives and it's really terrible. The government, they are the ones that are able to take care of the problems. And they are not doing their job."
