UPDATE: Statement from the Commissioner on Barnet incident

Statement from Sir Mark Rowley this afternoon in Barnet:

I am Mark Rowley, Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, and I am speaking from the scene of a terrorist attack in north-west London.

Counter Terrorism Policing has now formally declared this incident a terrorist attack.

This is another horrendous act of violence directed at our Jewish communities, which follows the targeted series of arson attacks, and it will rightly shock and anger people across London, in the immediate communities, and across the country.

My first thoughts are with the two British Jews who were attacked while going about their daily lives, as they should be able to do freely and safely in their own local community. I also want to pay tribute to my officers, who were on the scene within a few minutes and whose actions undoubtedly prevented further injury and saved lives.

Before coming here today, I met with them. They are nothing short of extraordinary. They confronted a man they believed to be a terrorist, who refused to show his hands, who was violent, and who continued to pose a clear threat. These were not armed officers and they feared that he was concealing an explosive device. Using only their training, courage and Tasers, they detained him while he continued to try to attack and stab them. They will tell you they were simply doing their jobs, but without their bravery, I dread to think what the outcome could have been.

I also want to recognise the voluntary first responders from the community including the Shomrim.

At 11.16 this morning, officers responded to reports of people being stabbed in Highfield Avenue in north west London. They attended, alongside the London Ambulance Service.

Two men, one in his 70s and one in his 30s, were treated at the scene for stab wounds and taken to hospital.

A 45-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and remains in custody. He has a history of serious violence and mental health issues and the investigation is ongoing.

Let me be clear about what this was.

An attack on one community is an attack on all London’s communities.

This was an attack on Londoners and it was an attack on British Jews.

Too many Jewish people in this country feel they have to make choices that no Briton should ever have to make, about how they dress, where they go, or how visibly they live their lives. That is completely unacceptable and has gone on for far too long.

We also need to be honest about the nature of the threat. Antisemitism is fuelled by hateful and extremist ideologies. It comes from hostile states, the extreme right, and the extreme left. These are terrorist and hateful belief systems but they are all rooted in racism. They are given space to operate when civic debate is weak, when hatred is excused, and when people are unwilling to challenge it directly.

I also believe now is the time to ask some difficult questions. Why are we not seeing more condemnation of these attacks we have seen in recent weeks? Where are the voices against hate? Where is the solidarity with fellow Londoners who are being targeted simply for who they are?

Legitimate concern or debate about international affairs must never be allowed to be used to legitimise antisemitism or violence against Jewish people here in Britain. When that line is blurred, attacks become more likely.

Let me be absolutely clear. We have seen a rise in racist and antisemitic hate crime. And while I cannot comment on live investigations, we know that some individuals are being encouraged, persuaded, or paid to commit acts of violence on behalf of foreign organisations and hostile states.

If you act out of hatred, racism or antisemitism, we will come after you and you will face the consequences.

I want to speak directly about the impact on communities.

London’s Jewish communities, and the Iranian diaspora in London, have in recent years been increasingly targeted by individuals, groups and hostile states intent on spreading fear, hate and harm. Against a backdrop of global instability and heightened tensions here at home, I fully understand how deeply worrying this will be.

In response, we have significantly stepped up our activity across the capital. Last week saw the most intensive set of community operations we have ever run. In recent weeks, we have deployed thousands of additional officer shifts to protect Londoners, alongside intensified investigations that have already led to the arrest of 28, particularly those targeting the Jewish community. Eight of those individuals have already been charged.

Let me finish by saying this:

London is an inclusive and diverse city. And in the hours and days following the attack in Golders Green three weeks ago, we saw communities come together in solidarity to reject hatred and violence. These are neighbours, their friends, that colleagues. That solidarity matters, and it must continue and strengthen.