Man arrested after stabbing 2 people in north London, Jewish volunteer security group says

A man has been detained after stabbing two people in North London, according to a local Jewish volunteer security organization.

The man was seen running along a main road in Golders Green, a heavily Jewish neighborhood, “armed with a knife and attempting to stab Jewish members of the public,” according to a statement by Shomrim, a charity that supports Jewish communities and runs a volunteer neighborhood watch program.

The group said members “responded immediately and detained the suspect,” who was then taken into police custody.

Police “attended and deployed a taser,” the said. The London Metropolitan Police did not immediately issue a statement on the incident.

Two victims were being treated by Hatzola, a Jewish volunteer emergency response organization, according to Shomrim. 

CBS News’ partner the BBC reported that the two victims were Jewish men and “are currently being treated for serious injuries.”

Hatzola told CBS News it could not provide any information on the status of the victims, but it confirmed there was a “major incident unfolding.”

Hatzola operate on a separate emergency number to London’s municipal emergency services, and the group said it would let the London Ambulance service take over once they arrive on the scene.

Another local group, the Community Security Trust, said in a social media post that there “has been a knife attack today in Golders Green. The suspect has been arrested,” offering thanks to Shomrim, Hatzola and the London police “for their swift response.”

The attack comes after a string of incidents over the past month targeting Jewish communities in north London, including an arson attack that saw several of Hatzola’s ambulances destroyed in the same area.

After another incident, an attack on a synagogue in northwest London on April 18, the U.K.’s chief rabbi, Sir Ephraim Mirvis, said the “sustained campaign of violence and intimidation against the Jewish community is gathering momentum.”

On Tuesday, after an attempted arson attack in the same area, the head of policing in northwest London said: “We recognize that this incident will heighten concerns in the Golders Green area, where residents have already faced a series of attacks.”

“Since last month’s attack in Golders Green, we have stepped up our work to reassure communities,” he said. “This includes armed police patrols as well as deployments of officers from Project Servator, who are specially trained to spot anyone who may be planning or preparing to commit criminal acts.”