The Golders Green terror attack suspect was living in supported housing for people who have left a secure hospital before going on an alleged knife rampage, it has emerged.
Essa Suleiman, 45, appeared in court on Friday, accused of attempting to murder his own friend before trying to kill two Jewish men on the street in northwest London on Wednesday.
He arrived in the dock with a bloodshot eye and visible facial bruising as he was remanded in custody at Westminster Magistrates’ Court. The Somalian-born British national was wearing a grey prison-issue tracksuit and spoke only to confirm his name and date of birth during the brief hearing.
The court heard the defendant was staying at an address in southeast London, which provides supported accommodation to people leaving a secure hospital. The area is covered by the South London and Maudsley NHS Trust, which has confirmed he was under the care of their mental health services earlier this week.
Outlining their case, the prosecution said Suleiman arrived at the Southwark home of Ishmail Hussein, whom he had known for some time, at around 7.50am on Wednesday.
When he opened the door, the defendant allegedly tried to stab him, the prosecution said.
Prosecutor Emma Harraway said Mr Hussein sustained minor injuries and called the police, the court heard.
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The defendant then travelled by public transport to Brent Cross underground, the prosecution alleges.
He encountered Shloime Rand, 34, at 11.16am on Highfield Avenue as he was leaving a synagogue. Mr Rand, who ran back in the direction of the synagogue, realised he was bleeding from the chest following an altercation. He suffered a punctured lung and has since been discharged from hospital, prosecutor Ms Harraway told the court.
Norman Shine, 76, was waiting at a bus stop on Golders Green Road at the time of the attack, prosecutors said.
“In the course of the attack, Mr Shine was stabbed in the neck,” Ms Harraway said. His injuries are not life-threatening and he remains in hospital.
Suleiman then suffered a medical episode on the street after officers tasered him several times and detained him, the court heard. He was treated in hospital and discharged some hours later.
The incident has been declared a terrorist attack by Counter Terrorism Police, who are leading the investigation. The country’s terror threat level has since been increased to severe, meaning a terror attack is “highly likely”.
Suleiman has been charged with three counts of attempted murder and one count of possessing a bladed article in a public place.
He stood with his hands on his hips as he was remanded in custody for a further hearing at the Old Bailey on 15 May, before moving them behind his back.
Addressing the defendant, chief magistrate Paul Goldspring said: “You will be remanded in custody until 15 May when you will appear before the Central Criminal Court.”
Announcing the charges on Friday morning, Commander Helen Flanagan, head of Counter Terrorism Policing London, said: “Our thoughts remain with the victims involved, and specialist officers continue to provide them with support as their recovery continues.
“We are determined to get justice for the victims, and now that a person has been charged, I would urge everyone to avoid any further speculation in relation to this case so that justice can run its course.”
Suleiman was born in Somalia and came to the UK legally as a child in the 1990s, and was reported to Prevent, the government’s anti-extremism programme, in 2020, but the case was closed the same year.
One of the victims has been discharged from hospital and is now recovering at home. Mr Rand told the BBC it was a “miracle” he survived, adding: “I feel like God’s given me back my life.” Mr Shine remains in hospital and is in a stable condition.
The Metropolitan Police said pro-Palestine marches across the country will be assessed after the UK terrorism threat level was raised to “severe” by the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre on Thursday.
The decision is not solely a result of the Golders Green attack, the Home Office said, adding the threat level in the UK has been “rising for some time”.
