The victims of the Golders Green stabbing attack yesterday have been named as Nachman Moshe ben Chaya Sarah and Moshe ben Baila.
Ben Chaya Sarah, 76, is known locally as Moshe Shine, and Ben Baila, 34, as Shlomo Rand.
In a post on X yesterday the Chief Rabbi named the two, referring to the men by their mother’s names in Hebrew – the tradition used when praying for a person’s welfare.
“Please join me in praying for a swift and complete recovery for the victims of today’s attack,” he said.
Both are in a stable condition.
It came after police declared the attack a “terror incident”.
Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, Head of Counter Terrorism Policing, confirmed that his team had taken over the investigation.
"Our highly specialised teams of officers are working with the Metropolitan Police to progress the investigation quickly – and establish exactly what has happened,” he said.
“We are also working with the security services to ensure we have a full intelligence picture.
“One of the lines of enquiry is whether this attack was deliberately targeting the Jewish community in London.”
A 45-year-old man was arrested at the scene after being tasered while allegedly attempting to stab police officers.
Iran-linked group Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia (Hayi) has claimed responsibility for the attack on its social media channels, but this has not been verified independently. The group has similarly claimed responsibility for several recent arson attacks against the community without evidence.
CCTV footage circulating online shows a man launching two frenzied attacks on bystanders on Golders Green Road.
Upon receiving news of the attack in the House of Commons, the prime minister told MPs the incident was “deeply concerning”.
“There is now a police investigation, and I think we all need to do everything we can to support that investigation and be absolutely clear in our determination to deal with any of these offences, the like of which we’ve seen too much recently.”
Reacting to the attack, the Chief Rabbi wrote: “Following the antisemitic stabbing of two Jewish people on the streets of Golders Green this morning, words of condemnation are no longer sufficient.
"This must be a moment that demands meaningful action from every institution, every community, every leader, and every decent person in our country. This is a hatred that we must face down together.”
Board of Deputies president Phil Rosenberg visited Golders Green on Wednesday afternoon in the aftermath of the attack.
He told the JC: “Another day, another attack on our community. But this is not just an attack on our community, it's an attack on our country.
"And we need everyone, from the government to the police to everyone in society, to begin to respond with force to this. It is an attack on our country and on our way of life, and we can no longer accept that individuals or groups can be have this situation of permission.”
Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis at the scene of the Golders Green stabbing attack on April 29, 2026 (Getty Images)AFP via Getty ImagesTo get more news, click here to sign up for our free daily newsletter.
