Oxford interfaith response to Golders Green stabbings

Shloime Rand, 34, and Moshe Ben Baila, 76, were stabbed in Golders Green in an attack which is being treated as suspected terrorism.

Essa Suleiman, 45, has appeared in court accused of trying to kill the men during a knife rampage through the streets of the north London suburb on Wednesday, April 29.

He is also accused of attempting to murder a man he had known for around 20 years, Ishmail Hussein, at his home in Southwark in the hours before the street attack and has been remanded to custody.

The Oxfordshire Faith and Civic Leaders Group shared the following message:

It said: “On behalf of the faith and civic leaders of Oxfordshire and the Thames Valley we wholeheartedly condemn the violent attacks against two Jewish people in Golders Green on Wednesday.

“We stand in solidarity with our Jewish friends and neighbours and condemn all forms of antisemitism, Islamophobia, xenophobia and racial hatred. 

“We are pledged together to build a strong and cohesive society marked by tolerance and mutual respect and to stand against a rising tide of hate and violence.”

The statement was signed by co-chairs Rt Revd Dr Steven Croft, Bishop of Oxford and Imam Monawar Hussein, The Oxford Foundation.

Names from across the faith and political spectrums were put to the letter.

The Bishop of Oxford Rt Rev Dr Steven Croft (Image: Oxford Mail)

Including those of Jon Dunston and Louise Gordon of the Oxford Jewish Congregation, Dr Reuven Ziegler of the Jewish Community, Mark Bhagwandan on behalf of the Oxford Hindu Community, and Rebecca Vickers of the Bahai Community and Oxford Council of Faiths.

The Oxford Mail has heard an outpouring of support and “horror” after the double stabbing, and Thames Valley Police confirmed it will be using armed response units to protect Jewish communities.

The force said: “As a result of what has happened, we will be increasing our patrols to provide reassurance and support to our Jewish communities within the Thames Valley.

“Our Jewish communities and the wider public can expect to see an enhanced policing presence around key locations, including places of worship. This will include armed response vehicles and is standard practice in response to terrorist incidents such as this one.”

Oxford City Council Leader Susan Brown said: “My thoughts are particularly with Oxford’s Jewish population and I stand with them. I am aware of the effect that attacks like this will inevitably have on many Jewish people and their perceptions of their own and their families’ safety.”