Met Chief Criticizes Zack Polanski Over Golders Green Attack Response

The head of the Metropolitan Police has hit out at Zack Polanski over his response to the Golders Green attack.

Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley condemned “observers with little experience of policing in the real world” for criticising the actions of his officers.

Shilome Rand, 34, and Moshe Shine, 76, were left seriously injured in what police have described as a terrorist incident in Golders Green, north west London, on Wednesday.

A video of the incident posted on social media shows Metropolitan Police apprehending the man suspected of carrying out the attacks.

Green Party leader Polanski retweeted a post on X which said: “So essentially [Met commissioner Mark Rowley’s] officers were repeatedly and violently kicking a mentally ill man in the head when he was already incapacitated by taser.”

In a letter to Polanski, Sir Mark said he was “disappointed” that he had amplified the comments of an “armchair critic” of the police’s actions.

He said: “Those officers are nothing short of extraordinary. They were on the scene within a few minutes and their actions undoubtedly prevented further injury and saved lives.”

The commissioner added: “Officers know they must be accountable for their use of force and there are processes for this to happen.

“Your use of your public profile to call their actions into question hours after a terrorist incident are not the appropriate route.”

A Green Party spokesman said: “Zack has seen the video like everyone else, and doesn’t know the full picture and knows it was a very difficult situation for the authorities, but we do need to understand more about the response.”

Green Party leader Polanski retweeted a post on X which said: “So essentially [Met commissioner Mark Rowley’s] officers were repeatedly and violently kicking a mentally ill man in the head when he was already incapacitated by taser.”

In a letter to Polanski, Sir Mark said he was “disappointed” that he had amplified the comments of an “armchair critic” of the police’s actions.

He said: “Those officers are nothing short of extraordinary. They were on the scene within a few minutes and their actions undoubtedly prevented further injury and saved lives.”

The commissioner added: “Officers know they must be accountable for their use of force and there are processes for this to happen.

“Your use of your public profile to call their actions into question hours after a terrorist incident are not the appropriate route.”

A Green Party spokesman said: “Zack has seen the video like everyone else, and doesn’t know the full picture and knows it was a very difficult situation for the authorities, but we do need to understand more about the response.”

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