Essa Suleiman is currently in custody on remand after being charged with the attempted murders of two Jewish men in Golders Green, north London, in what police have declared a terrorist incident. The 45-year-old Somali-born British national appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 1 May 2026, where he was remanded into custody until his next hearing at the Old Bailey on 15 May 2026.
What Happened in Golders Green?
On Wednesday 29 April 2026, Essa Suleiman is alleged to have carried out a series of violent attacks in London. The incident began earlier that day in Southwark, south London, at a property on Great Dover Street, where Suleiman allegedly attempted to murder a man named Ishmail Hussein, a long-time friend.
Suleiman then made his way north to Golders Green — a predominantly Jewish neighbourhood in the London Borough of Barnet — where he is accused of stabbing two Jewish men. The victims were identified as Shloime Rand, aged 34, and Norman Shine, aged 76. Both men were rushed to hospital; their injuries were described as serious. Mr Shine was reported to be in a particularly critical condition, with concerns raised about his sight.
Police arrived swiftly and Suleiman was detained at the scene. Within days, the Metropolitan Police formally declared the Golders Green attack a terrorist incident, raising alarm across Jewish communities in the UK and prompting national debate about antisemitic violence and the effectiveness of the government’s counter-extremism programmes.
Who Is Essa Suleiman?
Essa Suleiman is a 45-year-old man who was born in Somalia and came to the United Kingdom legally as a child in the 1990s. He had previously worked as a Somali interpreter for the Metropolitan Police. Despite this background, Suleiman had a prior criminal record of violence. In 2008, he was convicted of stabbing a police officer and a police dog with a bread knife and received an indeterminate prison sentence as a result.
Reports emerged that Suleiman had been referred to Prevent, the UK government’s counter-extremism programme, in 2020. However, his case was closed that same year without further action — a decision that has since drawn significant criticism in the wake of the Golders Green attack. The Community Security Trust also received reports that he had previously attended vigils for hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, where he allegedly behaved in an abusive manner towards Jewish individuals present.
What Charges Does He Face?
Essa Suleiman faces the following charges, which were confirmed when he appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 1 May 2026:
Two counts of attempted murder in connection with the stabbings of Shloime Rand and Norman Shine in Golders Green. One count of attempted murder in connection with the alleged earlier attack on Ishmail Hussein in Southwark. One count of possession of a bladed article in a public place.
The attempted murder charges carry a maximum sentence of life imprisonment in England and Wales. Given that the Metropolitan Police have designated the attacks as a terrorist incident, prosecutors may also consider charges under terrorism legislation as the case progresses. All charges are currently alleged — Suleiman has not yet entered a plea.
Why Was He Remanded in Custody?
After Suleiman appeared in the dock at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 1 May 2026, Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring remanded him into custody. Remand means that a defendant is held in prison while awaiting trial or their next court appearance, rather than being released on bail. In cases involving serious violence — particularly where the charges include attempted murder — courts routinely refuse bail due to the severity of the alleged offending and the risk the defendant may pose to the public.
Suleiman’s case was sent to the Central Criminal Court (the Old Bailey), with his next hearing scheduled for 15 May 2026. For more information about how the remand process works in England and Wales, see our guide to remand prisons in the UK. Individuals remanded in custody are held in remand wings of local prisons, where they are technically unconvicted prisoners with specific rights distinct from sentenced inmates.
The Terrorist Incident Declaration
Counter Terrorism Policing formally designated the Golders Green attack as a terrorist incident. This declaration means that specialist counter-terrorism officers are leading the investigation rather than local borough detectives. The designation also has implications for how the Crown Prosecution Service approaches potential charges — terrorism-related charges can carry substantially heavier sentences than equivalent non-terrorism offences.
The attack reignited debate in the UK about antisemitic violence, the effectiveness of the Prevent programme, and whether individuals known to have displayed extremist behaviour are being adequately monitored. Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the attacks, and the government faced questions in Parliament about Suleiman’s prior referral to Prevent.
If you have a family member currently held on remand, you may wish to read our guide on booking a prison visit or find out how to send money to a prisoner in the UK.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Essa Suleiman in prison?
Yes. Essa Suleiman was remanded into custody on 1 May 2026 following his appearance at Westminster Magistrates’ Court. He is being held in prison on remand while his case proceeds through the courts. His next hearing is at the Old Bailey on 15 May 2026.
What did Essa Suleiman do?
Essa Suleiman is alleged to have stabbed two Jewish men — Shloime Rand, 34, and Norman Shine, 76 — in Golders Green, north London, on 29 April 2026. He is also accused of an earlier attempted murder in Southwark on the same day. The Metropolitan Police have declared the Golders Green attacks a terrorist incident.
What is Essa Suleiman charged with?
He faces three counts of attempted murder — two relating to the Golders Green stabbings and one relating to an earlier attack in Southwark — as well as one count of possession of a bladed article in a public place. All charges are currently alleged and no plea has been entered.
Was Essa Suleiman previously known to police?
Yes. Essa Suleiman has a prior criminal history and was convicted in 2008 of stabbing a police officer and a police dog with a bread knife. He also received an indeterminate prison sentence at that time. He was referred to the Prevent counter-extremism programme in 2020, though his case was closed without further action that same year.
What sentence could Essa Suleiman receive if convicted?
Attempted murder carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment in England and Wales. Given that the attacks have been designated a terrorist incident, prosecutors may also pursue charges under terrorism legislation, which carry their own significant sentencing powers. Any sentence would be determined by a judge at the Central Criminal Court following a trial.
