Man charged in connection with attack in Barnet

A 45-year-old man has been charged following a Counter Terrorism Policing investigation into an attack during which two men were stabbed in Golders Green.

Following authorisation from the Crown Prosecution Service, Essa Suleiman (02.02.1981) of Camberwell has been charged with two counts of attempted murder and one count of possession of a bladed article in a public place in relation to an attack in Golders Green on Wednesday 29 April.

Suleiman was also charged with attempted murder in relation to a separate incident on the same date in Great Dover Street. He has been remanded in police custody and is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Friday, 1 May.

Commander Helen Flanagan, Head of Counter Terrorism Policing London, which is leading the investigation said: “Our thoughts remain with the victims involved and specialist officers continue to provide them with support as their recovery continues.

“We are determined to get justice for the victims and now that a person has been charged, I would urge everyone to avoid any further speculation in relation to this case so that justice can run its course.”

Background:

At 11:16hrs on Wednesday 29 April, officers responded following reports of people stabbed in Highfield Avenue.

Local officers and armed officers attended, alongside the London Ambulance Service. The suspect was Tasered before being arrested.

Two men – aged 76 and 34 – were treated at the scene for stab wounds. Both men were taken to hospital. The 34-year-old has since been released from hospital and the 76-year-old remains there in a stable condition.

A 45-year-old man, who is a British national, born in Somalia, was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder. He was initially taken to hospital but has since been discharged and has been taken to a London police station where he remains in police custody.

As part of this investigation, detectives were also made aware of an incident that was reported to police earlier on Wednesday 29 April in south east London. It is believed the suspect in this incident was the same individual arrested in Golders Green.

Police were called at approximately 08:50hrs on 29 April to an incident at an address in Great Dover Street, SE1. The suspect, who is reported to have been armed with a knife, is believed to have had an altercation with the occupant before leaving. The occupant received minor injuries and police arrived within around six minutes of being called. Officers carried out searches in the local area for the suspect, but he was not located. Officers also carried out enquiries to locate the man at an address connected to the suspect, but again, he was not located.

The attack in Golders Green was formally declared a terrorist incident and officers from Counter Terrorism Policing London continue to lead the investigation, which remains ongoing .

Since the attack on the Hatzola ambulances in Golders Green on 23 March, there have been 28 arrests linked to the various incidents and CTP investigations that have followed – including a man arrested on April 29 in relation to a terrorist incident in Golders Green. Of those 28 who have been arrested, eight people have been charged with arson-related offences and one person has been convicted of arson.

CTP officers continue to work closely with Met Police colleagues in response this latest attack, as well various other recent arson incidents. A significant policing operation has been in place to provide reassurance and deterrence which has been further enhanced, following the incident on Wednesday, using both highly visible and other specialist police resources.