Golders Green attack victim says government failed to protect Jewish community

Alex RossThursday April 30, 2026

Screen grab from body worn camera of police officers confronting and arresting a 45-year-old man who remains in custody, they have said, following two people being stabbed in Golders Green (Metropolitan Police/PA)Metropolitan Police

A victim of the suspected terror attack in Golders Green has condemned the government for “not doing its job” after recalling the moment he was stabbed in the chest.

Shilome Rand, 34, was wounded alongside 76-year-old Moshe Ben Baila, known locally as Moshe Shine, in what appeared to be an antisemitic assault on Wednesday. The attack, near the site where four Jewish community ambulances were set on fire in late March, prompted a major police operation and the arrest of a 45-year-old man described as a Somali-born British national.

Soon after the incident, Sir Keir Starmer described the attack as “deeply concerning”, and said his government was “absolutely clear in our determination” to tackle such incidents.

But the violence has also intensified criticism that too little is being done to confront antisemitism, including from Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu, who wrote on X: “Words are not enough to confront this scourge.” Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis also urged “meaningful action” to deal with the “root causes” of antisemitism.

Speaking to ITV News from his hospital bed, Mr Rand joined those accusing ministers of failing to act.

He said: “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.”

He added: “The government they are the ones that are able to take care of the problems. And they are not doing their job.”

Mr Rand said he had been studying at a local synagogue when a man suddenly ran toward him.

“I didn’t suspect anything, and he just stabbed me in the chest. I was taken to the hospital,” he said.

He added: “He looked angry, he looked angry. You could feel it in his facial expressions; it was like he was out to get me.”

Both Mr Rand and Mr Shine, who were attacked at a bus stop, are understood to be in hospital in a stable condition.

Sir Keir has pledged that the government will tackle the causes of antisemitism, increase funding for security at Jewish sites, and confront “malign state actors” linked to recent violence.

He is expected to meet criminal justice agencies on Thursday to discuss the attack, and said he would visit Golders Green “as soon as possible”.

In London, counterterrorism officers investigating the attack are also searching an address in the south-east of the city after reports that the suspect had been involved in a previous “altercation” with another person.

In a joint statement, Detective Chief Superintendent Luke Williams, the regional basic command unit commander, and Barnet Council chief executive Cath Shaw said a “significant number of officers” would be deployed in the area to support the investigation.

“This gives police officers temporary powers to stop and search people in the area without needing specific suspicion, where there is a risk of serious violence,” the statement said.

“This is a preventative measure designed to deter further criminality. We were already deploying an increased number of Counter Terrorism Response Vehicles to respond to suspicious activity.”

They said there would be an “increased policing presence in and around schools, transport hubs, high footfall areas and faith venues”.