Zack Polanski Questions Police Handling Of Golders Green Attack

A row has erupted after Zack Polanski raised concerns about the treatment of the man alleged to have stabbed two Jewish people in broad daylight in London.

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

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

The man has not been named but has been described as a Somali-born British national with a “history of serious violence and mental health issues”.

It has also emerged that he was previously referred to the fovernment’s anti-extremism programme, Prevent.

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.”

A Green Party source told HuffPost UK: “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.”

Posting on X, the Met said: “The suspect refused to show his hands, was violent and continued to pose a clear threat. Using only their training, courage and tasers, they detained him while he continued to try to attack and stab them. This took true courage.”

But posting on X, Home Office minister Mike Tapp said: “I’m disgusted that anyone with this view is leading any political party. The Green Party has hit a new low.”

A spokesperson for the Jewish Labour Movement said: “The Jewish community is hugely grateful to the police for apprehending a knife-wielding terrorist before he stabbed more Jews.

“If a terrorist won’t drop the knife used to stab two Jews, then any sensible person would expect the police to use force. It’s shocking Zack Polanski and his ‘comrades’ are soft on terrorists.”

Subscribe to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. Every week, Kevin Schofield and Kate Nicholson unpack the week’s biggest stories to keep you informed. Join us for straightforward analysis of what’s going on at Westminster.