Green Party Leader Zack Polanski Apologises for Sharing Post Criticising Police Arrest After Golders Green Attack

Green Party leader Zack Polanski apologised on Friday, 1 May, for sharing a social media post that accused Metropolitan Police officers of violently kicking an incapacitated suspect during the arrest following the Golders Green stabbing attack in north-west London. Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley publicly condemned Polanski's actions, saying the officers' use of force was completely reasonable, while Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the decision to share the post disgraceful.

The Details

Polanski reposted a message on X that alleged officers had repeatedly and violently kicked a mentally ill man in the head after he had already been incapacitated by a Taser, according to BBC News. The post concerned the arrest of the suspect in the Golders Green attack, in which two Jewish men were stabbed on 30 April.

In a statement issued Friday, Polanski said: "I apologise for sharing a tweet in haste." He added: "Police responses to emergency situations such as these do need later reflection in the right forums, but I accept that social media is not the appropriate channel for doing so."

Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley rejected the characterisation of the arrest in the reposted message. "Those officers are nothing short of extraordinary," Rowley said, according to BBC News. Rowley said the officers had confronted a suspect they believed could be carrying an explosive device, and that their use of force was completely reasonable in the circumstances.

The Guardian separately reported that Rowley said Polanski had undermined officer confidence at a moment when London police needed strong public backing, with Jewish communities scared amid rising antisemitism concerns.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer called Polanski's decision to share the post disgraceful in a BBC interview. The interview was recorded before Polanski issued his apology, according to BBC News.

The Independent reported internal Green Party criticism of Polanski's repost, with Welsh Green leader Anthony Slaughter describing the retweet as appearing inappropriate.

The row over the repost centres on a disputed account of the arrest. The shared post alleged officers repeatedly and violently kicked the suspect in the head after he had been incapacitated by a Taser. Metropolitan Police leadership said the suspect remained violent after being Tasered, refused to show his hands, and that the use of force was completely reasonable, according to BBC News and The Guardian. That dispute over what the arrest footage shows is the central factual question behind the political backlash Polanski faced.

Context

The row followed the Golders Green attack in north-west London, where two Jewish men were stabbed on 30 April, according to BBC News. Metropolitan Police formally declared the incident a terrorist attack.

BBC News reported that suspect Essa Suleiman, 45, was charged with attempted murder and was due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Friday.

Rowley, speaking to The Guardian, said London police needed strong public backing while Jewish communities were scared amid rising antisemitism concerns. His public intervention directly naming Polanski was unusual for a serving commissioner addressing a party leader by name over a social media post.

What's Next

Polanski has issued his apology and acknowledged social media was an inappropriate forum for commentary on police tactics in live emergency situations. BBC News reported the apology but gave no indication that further formal action — such as a parliamentary inquiry or disciplinary proceedings within the Green Party — had been announced.

Suleiman is due before Westminster Magistrates' Court on Friday following the attempted murder charges reported by BBC News. The Met's formal designation of the attack as a terrorist incident means counterterrorism officers are leading the investigation.