‘My son was attacked in Golders Green because he’s visibly Jewish – things need to change’
The father of a Jewish man stabbed in an anti-Semitic attack in north London said his son was “clearly targeted” because of the way he dressed.
Two Jews, 34-year-old Shloime Rand, known locally as Moshe Shine, and 76-year-old Moshe Ben Baila, were hospitalized after being stabbed in a suspected terror attack in Golders Green on Wednesday.
A 45-year-old man, who police said was a Somali-born British citizen, was arrested following the incident.
The Metropolitan Police said he was known to the government’s counter-extremism programme, Prevent, and a referral was made in 2020 but it was closed the same year.
The stabbings are the latest in a series of attacks on the Jewish community in north-west London in recent weeks, prompting calls for urgent action as well as accusations that the government is not doing enough to tackle antisemitism.
Shloime’s father, who did not want to give his name and wanted to be known only as Mr Rand, said: Independent He said Wednesday he wants the prime minister to do more to protect the Jewish community.
He believes his son was targeted “because he dresses like him and is Jewish.”
Stating that only Jews were targeted in the attack, he said, “This is very clear.”
“Obviously he knew who he was going to, but he didn’t know who they were. [personally]So it’s just… that’s why he went to these,” Mr. Rand said.
Shloime had previously told ITV News from her hospital bed that she was studying at a local synagogue when a man started running towards her.
“I didn’t suspect anything, he stabbed me in the chest. I was taken to hospital,” he said.
He added: “He looked angry, he looked angry. You could feel it in his facial expressions; it was like he wanted to get me.”
The government said a further £25 million would be invested to improve the security of Jewish communities following the suspected terror attack.
The funding will aim to increase police patrols and guards around synagogues, schools and community centres, taking the total commitment this year to £58 million.
The Prime Minister was stunned when he arrived at the Jewish community ambulance center in Golders Green on Thursday.
Asked what the Government could do to combat antisemitism, Mr Rand said: “I think [Sir Keir Starmer] it might help but I don’t know if it will help because he has already talked so many times in the last few years and done nothing.
“So I’m sure he can, yes, of course he can. Prime Minister, I hope he can. If he’s going to do it, he hasn’t shown anything so far. So this one story could change the situation, it could happen, we don’t know.”
Mr Rand described his son as a “good man” and said he was a father of six children.
He said that his son’s condition has improved today and he is currently awaiting examinations. “I hope we hear good news,” Mr. Rand added.
