Essa Suleiman is being held on remand in a UK prison after being charged with three counts of attempted murder following a series of knife attacks in north London on 29 April 2026. Police have formally designated the attacks as acts of terrorism, making this one of the most serious custody cases in the UK in 2026.
Who Is Essa Suleiman?
Essa Suleiman, 45, is a Somalia-born British citizen who had been living in London at the time of the attacks. He was not widely known to the public before April 2026, though he had a significant criminal history that included a serious previous conviction involving knife attacks on police officers.
Following the April 2026 attack, Suleiman became the subject of intense media coverage and public scrutiny due to the antisemitic nature of the incident, the severity of the injuries caused, and the government’s decision to raise the UK terror threat level in response.
What Happened in the Golders Green Attack?
On the afternoon of 29 April 2026, Essa Suleiman carried out a series of knife attacks in and around the Golders Green area of north London. Golders Green is one of the most prominent Jewish neighbourhoods in the UK, home to a large Orthodox Jewish community, multiple synagogues, and Jewish-owned businesses.
Two men were stabbed in the attack: Shloime Rand, aged 34, and Moshe Shine, aged 76. Both victims were visibly Jewish at the time of the attacks. Mr Shine, aged 76, sustained the more serious injuries. A third man was also attacked earlier the same day in a separate location in London, sustaining minor injuries.
The attacks caused immediate alarm within the Jewish community and led to calls for heightened security around Jewish institutions across the country. Suleiman was arrested and charged within days of the attacks.
The Charges Against Essa Suleiman
Essa Suleiman appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 1 May 2026 and was charged with three counts of attempted murder. The two principal counts relate to the stabbings of Shloime Rand and Moshe Shine in Golders Green. A third count relates to the earlier attack the same day in which a man sustained minor injuries.
He was remanded into custody at that hearing and has been held in a UK prison since. His case was transferred to the Central Criminal Court — commonly known as the Old Bailey — for a further hearing on 15 May 2026. A trial date has not yet been confirmed publicly, though the case is expected to be heard on indictment given the seriousness of the charges.
Suleiman has not yet entered formal pleas to the charges at the time of writing. Under UK law, defendants charged with attempted murder can face a maximum sentence of life imprisonment if convicted.
Why Was It Classed as Terrorism?
Metropolitan Police formally designated the attacks as a terrorist incident shortly after the arrests were made. This designation was based on the belief that the attacks were motivated by ideology, specifically antisemitism, and were intended to intimidate a particular religious and ethnic group.
Following the designation, the UK government raised the national terror threat level from Substantial to Severe — the second-highest level on the five-point scale — meaning intelligence agencies assessed that a further attack was highly likely in the coming months. The decision reflected concerns not only about copycat attacks but about the broader security environment at the time.
Terrorism charges were not added to the charge sheet at Suleiman’s first court appearance, but further charges including terrorism-related offences remain possible as the investigation develops.
Previous Convictions and Background
Essa Suleiman has a significant criminal record. In December 2008, he was sentenced to nine years in prison after being convicted of stabbing two police officers and a police German shepherd dog during a separate incident. The nature of his 2008 offending — attacks on multiple individuals with a bladed weapon — drew immediate comparisons with the 2026 attacks.
The circumstances under which Suleiman came to commit further serious violent offences after serving his earlier sentence are part of the ongoing investigation and judicial proceedings. Questions have been raised in Parliament and in the press about supervision arrangements following his release from his 2008 sentence.
If you want to understand how remand in custody works in the UK, or how to support someone on remand, visit our guides on booking a prison visit and sending money to a prisoner on remand. You can also find a prisoner in the UK using our step-by-step guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Essa Suleiman in prison?
Essa Suleiman is being held on remand after being charged with three counts of attempted murder following knife attacks in north London on 29 April 2026. The Metropolitan Police have classified the attacks as acts of terrorism motivated by antisemitism.
Who did Essa Suleiman attack?
Essa Suleiman is alleged to have attacked three men in north London on 29 April 2026. Two of the victims — Shloime Rand, 34, and Moshe Shine, 76 — were attacked in the Golders Green area. A third man was attacked in a separate location in London earlier the same day and sustained minor injuries.
Has Essa Suleiman been convicted?
No. As of May 2026, Essa Suleiman has not been convicted. He has been charged with three counts of attempted murder and remanded in custody. He has not yet entered formal pleas and a trial date has not been publicly confirmed. He is currently on remand and is presumed innocent unless and until convicted by a court.
What sentence could Essa Suleiman face if convicted?
Attempted murder in England and Wales carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. Given the serious nature of the alleged offences, the terrorism designation, and his prior criminal history, prosecutors would be expected to argue for a lengthy custodial term if a conviction is secured at trial.
What is remand in custody in the UK?
Remand in custody means a person is held in prison while they await trial or sentencing. It does not mean the person has been convicted. Remand prisoners have the same rights to visits and communications as sentenced prisoners in most respects, though their status is formally different. Time spent on remand is typically counted towards any eventual sentence.
