A man has been arrested on suspicion of possessing an offensive weapon and racially aggravated affray after an incident at a shop in north London, police have said.
Emergency services were called to the scene in Hamilton Road, near Golders Green, shortly before 1.30pm after the Metropolitan Police received reports of a man with a knife.
About ten minutes later, a 34-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon, criminal damage and racially aggravated affray, the force said. There were no reports of any injuries and the incident is not being treated as terror-related, it added.
A knife has been recovered and a man has been taken into custody.
Charities and campaign groups have said they are “horrified” by the news, with charity CST saying a man was seen shouting antisemitic abuse at a kosher shop.
They praised the Metropolitan Police and Shomrim for attending the scene quickly.
Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “This incident clearly did not take place in a vacuum. We have repeatedly warned of the dangers of hatred going almost unchecked on the streets of London. Those who have failed in their duty to uphold the law and defend British Jews cannot decry this incident without recognising that they are responsible for creating the perfect environment in which criminal hatred thrives.
“We thank the Metropolitan Police Service and Shomrim NW London for their brave and urgent response to this alleged antisemitic attack.”
CST, which provides security to Jewish people, said: “CST is aware of an incident involving a man with a knife shouting antisemitic abuse at a kosher shop in Golders Green, north London. Nobody was harmed and the incident is now over. We thank the Metropolitan Police for their swift response and urge the community to remain vigilant and alert.”
The European Jewish congress said: “We’re horrified by the news of an individual wielding a knife in a Kosher store in the Jewish community of Golders Green, London. A man shouted antisemitic abuse, chased some individuals and threatened to stab them. Grateful to the Metropolitan Police and Shomrim for the swift response.”
Inspector Scott Barden-Marshall, from the local policing team in north-west London, said an investigation is under way. He added: “I know this incident will cause concern in the community. Officers responded quickly and made an arrest within 10 minutes.”
Golders Green is a historically Jewish area of North London, with several Kosher delis, supermarkets and synagogues.
https://inews.co.uk/news/man-arrested-after-suspect-with-knife-seen-shouting-antisemitic-abuse-in-london-2879318
