A heroic Golders Green teenager has fended off a knifeman using Krav Maga he learned at school.

Yosef Chaim Reitman, 18, confronted a man wielding a knife in the Kay’s Kosher supermarket on Hamilton Road in Golders Green, after the man demanded to know where shop staff stood on “Israel and Palestine”. 

The Metropolitan police have arrested the man who pulled out a large knife on customers and shop assistants after he was subdued by officers and Shomrim volunteers.

Shopkeeper Evyatar Reitman, 48, was in his shop with his 18-year-old son Yosef Chaim when the man came in.

Evyatar Reitman (right) 48, was in his shop with his 18-year-old son Yosef Chaim (left) when the man came in wielding a knife

Reitman said: “I could see the hate in his eyes. He looked like he came in looking for a fight.

“He came to ask about Israel Palestine and seemed to want us to say we were pro-Israel so he had a reason to attack.

“He demanded: ‘What's your side? Where do you stand on Israel and Palestine?

“I replied, ‘I don't discuss politics’. I thought he was going to stab my son. We managed to walk him out.”

18-year-old Yosef Chaim said: “He told me I live here, let’s go around the corner and speak. I didn’t want to do that, I said let’s stay here. That’s when he got very angry and he grabbed my neck. I learned Krav Maga at school and other martial arts, from years 5-7 - Baruch Hashem.

“I tried to tackle him and restrain him. I wanted to stop him.

"That’s when people shouted ‘knife’ and I quickly let go, even before I tried to trip him over he had the knife out.
“He went towards my father with the knife. Then he went towards me. Hashem gave me the idea to take out one of the trollies and then I pushed it against his stomach to try and repel him. He kept coming at me. As he started coming towards me I quickly threw the trolly towards him."

According to witnesses, he "jabbed" at the staff and customers, but did not cause any injuries. 

The man then crossed Hamilton Road and entered a house, where he changed clothes. When he left the building, the suspect was tackled to the ground by Shomrim volunteers and officers from the Metropolitan police, who detained him.

In a tweet, the CST thanked the police for “their swift response” and urged the community to “remain vigilant and alert.”

In a statement, the Metropolitan police said: “We were called at 13:27hrs on Monday, 29 January to reports of a man with a knife in Hamilton Road, NW11.

“Officers responded and searched the area.

“Shortly before 13:40hrs a 34-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon, criminal damage and racially aggravated affray. He was taken into custody.

“There were no reports of any injuries. A knife was recovered at the scene.”