A 45-year-old man has appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court charged with the attempted murders of three people following two separate knife attacks in London on Wednesday. Essa Suleiman faces charges that span two parts of the city and two distinct incidents that prosecutors say took place within hours of each other on the same day.
As reported by the Guardian, prosecutor Emma Harraway told the court that Suleiman first attacked a man named Ishmail Hussein at his home in Southwark in south London. Suleiman then travelled across the city to Golders Green in north-west London where he arrived shortly after 11am and carried out a second attack targeting two Jewish men in the street.
Prosecutors said Suleiman first attacked Shloime Rand, 34, before turning on Norman Shine, 76. Both men were described in court as clearly identifiable as Orthodox Jews by their clothing. A member of the public who witnessed the attack on Shine intervened and attempted to disarm Suleiman. Prosecutors said further charges are being considered in connection with Suleiman's alleged actions towards that individual.
Officers arrested Suleiman using a stun gun. He suffered what prosecutors described as a medical episode while on the ground following his arrest and required hospital treatment before he could be processed.
Suleiman appeared in the dock on Friday wearing a grey tracksuit. He spoke only to confirm his name and address. The chief magistrate Paul Goldspring remanded him in custody and sent the case to the Old Bailey where it will be heard at a higher level given the severity of the charges. The next hearing has been scheduled for May 15.
The attack in Golders Green carries particular weight given the context in which it occurred. The area has faced a series of incidents targeting the Jewish community in recent months including an arson attack on a memorial wall honouring Iranians who died protesting against the Iranian regime just days before Wednesday's stabbings. Community leaders have repeatedly raised concerns about the pattern of incidents and called for stronger protective measures in the area.
The attack on two elderly and middle-aged Jewish men in broad daylight on a north London street is being treated with the utmost seriousness by the courts. The fact that prosecutors highlighted the visibility of the victims' religious identity through their clothing suggests the question of motivation will be central to proceedings when the case reaches the Old Bailey later this month.
