The stabbings of two Jewish men in Golders Green, north London, in April are now being treated as an alleged hate crime, not a terrorist attack, police have confirmed. Essa Suleiman, 45, was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder shortly after the incidents on 29 April.
Police had initially treated the attacks, which occurred in an area with a significant Jewish population, as suspected terrorist offences. However, at a pre-trial hearing on Friday, Mr Suleiman denied all charges, and the prosecution stated the case is no longer being treated as suspected terrorism.
In an email to London communities, the Metropolitan Police said the Crown Prosecution Service would not be pursuing a terrorist connection. They added that the seriousness with which the matter is being treated has not changed. Commander Helen Flanagan, head of counter-terrorism policing for London, acknowledged the impact on the victims and the Jewish community.
Mr Suleiman has also been charged with attempted murder for an unconnected stabbing of another man earlier on the same day. The victims of the Golders Green attacks were named as Shloime Rand, 34, and Moshe Shine, 76. The victim of the other stabbing was Ishmail Hussein.