Met chief defends knife attack officers after Greens criticism

Welsh Green Party leader Anthony Slaughter told LBC the repost seemed inappropriate. Liberal Democrat Luke Taylor MP criticised Polanski's repost as 'utterly disgraceful' and questioned the Green Party's stance on 'perception of fear' in the Jewish community.

Polanski reposted a post on X condemning the officers' actions, prompting a response from Sir Mark Rowley.

Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley wrote to Zack Polanski, expressing disappointment that Polanski amplified 'inaccurate and misinformed commentary' and defending the officers' actions as they worked to protect Londoners. He described the officers as 'extraordinary' and said they acted promptly to prevent further harm, noting that apprehending violent criminals is a full-contact and sometimes messy task and that officers will be supported.

Footage from officers' body-worn cameras was released, showing them shouting for the suspect to get down on the ground and then to drop the knife during the struggle.

The Metropolitan Police formally declared the Golders Green attack a terrorist incident.

In Golders Green, north London, two Jewish men were stabbed. Officers tasered the suspect and kicked him in the head while trying to prise the knife from his hand. Essa Suleiman, 45, was arrested on suspicion of attempting to murder Shloime Rand, 34, and Moshe Shine, 76, and he remained in police custody. The Met said officers were not armed and feared the suspect could be carrying an explosive device.

Police said Essa Suleiman, 45, was believed to be involved in a separate incident in south-east London on Tuesday.