UK Raises Terror Threat Level to Severe After Antisemitic Stabbing Attack in Golders Green

The United Kingdom raised its national terrorism threat level from SUBSTANTIAL to SEVERE on 30 April 2026, following an antisemitic stabbing attack in Golders Green, north London, that left two Jewish men injured the previous day. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said a terrorist attack is now considered highly likely in the next six months, while the government also announced £25 million in additional security funding for Jewish communities across the country.

The Details

Two men — Shloime Rand, 34, and Moshe Shine, 76 — were stabbed in Golders Green on 29 April 2026 in an incident the UK government publicly described as an antisemitic terror attack, according to the BBC. The Metropolitan Police arrested 45-year-old Essa Suleiman on suspicion of attempted murder in connection with the attack, the BBC reported.

The day after the attack, Home Secretary Mahmood announced the threat level increase in a statement published on GOV.UK. "Yesterday's abhorrent, antisemitic attack was a vile act of terrorism," Mahmood said. "Today, the national threat level has increased to 'severe', which means a terrorist attack is considered highly likely."

The government was explicit that the SEVERE designation was not triggered solely by the Golders Green attack. According to the Home Office, the threat level increase also reflects broader Islamist and extreme right-wing threats facing the UK.

The £25 million in additional security funding announced alongside the threat level change is earmarked for policing and security measures protecting Jewish communities, including synagogues, schools, and community centres, according to the Home Office statement on GOV.UK.

Lutfur Rahman, the mayor of Tower Hamlets, issued a statement condemning the attack. "I am shocked by the incident in Golders Green in which two Jewish people were stabbed," Rahman said, according to the Tower Hamlets Council statement.

Context

MI5 defines a SEVERE threat level as meaning an attack is highly likely, according to the agency's published guidance. The national terrorism threat level had previously sat at SUBSTANTIAL since 9 February 2022, when it was lowered from SEVERE, according to MI5's published threat history.

MI5's threat level page confirmed the national terrorism threat level for the UK was listed as SEVERE as of 30 April 2026.

What's Next

The Home Office has committed the additional £25 million in security funding for Jewish community institutions, according to the government's GOV.UK announcement. The Metropolitan Police's arrest of Essa Suleiman on suspicion of attempted murder means the investigation is at an early stage; further legal proceedings will be determined by that process, the BBC reported.

The government's GOV.UK statement confirmed the SEVERE threat level was raised in response to both the Golders Green attack and a broader assessment of Islamist and extreme right-wing threats. No timeline for a further review of the threat level was given in the Home Office announcement.