Zack Polanski’s criticism of Golders Green attack arrest will have ‘chilling effect’, says Met chief | UK news
A post by Green party leader Zack Polanski about the arrest of a Golders Green terror suspect would have a “chilling effect”, the Metropolitan Police chief has said.
Met officers arrested a 45-year-old man after two Jews were stabbed in a north-west London suburb on Wednesday. Police said the suspect was shot with a stun gun to subdue him.
The incident is being treated as terrorism and police are in discussions about the case with lawyers at the Crown Prosecution Service, which allows criminal charges in England and Wales.
Polanski retweeted, without comment, a post in which X accused police officers at the scene of “repeatedly and violently kicking a mentally ill man in the head.”
But in a letter to the Green party leader, Met commissioner Mark Rowley said he believed the post was “inaccurate and ill-informed commentary” and that police officers were “nothing short of extraordinary”, adding: “I dread to think what the outcome might have been had it not been for their efforts to stop him.”
He added: “The Jewish community in London is afraid. They have experienced a number of targeted attacks on the community and they expect our officers to step in, to protect them.”
“That’s exactly what our officers did yesterday. Your decision to use your public profile and reach to criticize these officers will have a chilling effect.”
“Officers were confronted by a dangerous man, whom they believed to be a terrorist, who refused to show his hands, was violent and continued to pose a clear threat,” Rowley wrote.
His letter also calls for solidarity from political leaders, stating: “This solidarity is important and right now we need politicians and community leaders to be at the forefront of this issue, not only condemning horrific attacks but also taking the lead in countering anti-Semitism and tolerant rhetoric, de-escalating tensions and supporting those willing to intervene to protect and reassure the public.”
A Green Party source said: “Zack saw the video like everyone else, he doesn’t know the full picture and he knows this is a very difficult situation for the authorities, but we need to know more about the response.”
On Wednesday, following the attacks in Golders Green, the Green party issued a statement: “This was a horrific act of anti-Semitic violence. Jewish people deserve safety and belonging wherever they live, and we stand in solidarity with the British Jewish community.”
