Prime minister Keir Starmer said he would visit Golders Green “as soon as possible” after today’s “appalling attack”.

He chaired a Cobra meeting after two people were stabbed in Golders Green, north-west London, in an incident that police are treating as a terrorism offence.

Starmer also said he would meet with criminal justice agencies on Thursday. Speaking to broadcasters, he said: “The Government is taking action in relation to security, cohesion, extremism, but of course it’s our responsibility to coordinate the immediate response here to this appalling attack, to ensure security is in place, to take other measures.

“I’m holding a meeting tomorrow with the criminal justice agencies to make sure that we have effective and swift justice in these cases.”

Other politicians, including Conservative party leader Kemi Badenoch and courts minister and local MP Sarah Sackman, have gone to Golders Green.

Sackman said: “I want to say this to everybody listening and specifically to the British Jewish community and attack on Britain’s Jews is an attack on Britain itself.

“We cannot tolerate this. The prime minister has called a Cobra meeting. It speaks to just how serious this incident is.”

In an interview, Badenoch said the “full force of the law” is what people need to feel safe.

The Board of Deputies of British Jews and the Jewish Leadership Council have released a joint statement after the stabbing of two Jewish men in Golders Green on Wednesday morning.

The statement said: “We are sickened by yet another terrorist attack on our community, this time targeting two visibly Jewish men on the streets of London. This comes after weeks of arson attacks targeting Jewish premises, and just seven months after two Jews were murdered in Manchester on Yom Kippur. For many in our community, this feels relentless.

“Our thoughts are with the victims, and we pray for their swift recovery. We also thank the police, Shomrim, Hatzola and CST for their swift response.”

The groups then outlined that there were factors which led to this event taking place. “We cannot ignore the context: a wave of antisemitic hatred driven by extremists at home and abroad, including Islamist extremism that motivated the Heaton Park attack, and attempts by the Iranian regime to orchestrate violence against British Jews,” it said.

It continued: “This attack, and the others we have witnessed, are not only on the Jewish community, but on our country and its values. It is an attack on the right to live freely, to celebrate one’s identity without fear, and to walk our streets in safety.

“Security measures are essential, but they alone are not the answer. Government must deliver on its commitments to tackle sources of antisemitic extremism at home and abroad. We will not allow Jewish life to be forced behind barriers.

“British Jews will not be intimidated. But we should not face this threat alone. A silent majority offers little reassurance. This is a moment for the whole of society to speak up loudly and stand together against this hatred.”

Katie Kempen, chief executive at Victim Support, said: “We are appalled by today’s antisemitic terror attack in Golders Green, North London, and our thoughts are with all those affected.

“This is not only an attack on the two injured men, it is an attack on the entire Jewish community.

“Victim Support stands firmly against racism, antisemitism and violence, and in solidarity with the Jewish community.

“Anyone who has been affected by today’s incident can contact us 24/7 through our live chat service or by calling our free Supportline on 08 08 16 89 111.”

Attorney-general Richard Hermer has said he is “deeply concerned” the attack in Golders Green and ongoing threats against the Jewish community.

In a post on social media, Hermer said that while “we don’t know yet know the full picture”, he is urging people to let the police get on with their “urgent work”.

He said:

But I will say that these vile antisemitic acts are designed to strike fear into the heart of Britain’s Jewish community. We will not allow them to win.

There should be no doubt of the government’s determination to keep the Jewish community safe and tackle antisemitism in all its forms.

I personally know of the prime minister’s outrage at attacks on the Jewish community, which are real and concerning, and his unyielding resolve to root out antisemitism in our society.

Detectives are looking at what ideology drove the suspect and are also examining his mental health history.

The stabbings in Golders Green follow a terrorist attack on Heaton Park synagogue in Manchester last year where two people died, with the attacker shot dead by police. In that case the attacker claimed he carried out the atrocity for Islamic State.

Islamic State and al-Qaeda propaganda have recently called for attacks on Jewish people and targets. A series of attacks since March, first in Europe and then in London against Jewish targets, are suspected of being carried out by criminal proxies at the behest of Iran.

The King is being kept fully informed and is “deeply concerned” after the terrorist attack on two Jewish men in Golders Green, and his “thoughts and prayers” are with the victims, Buckingham Palace has said.

King Charles and Queen Camilla are currently undertaking a four-day visit to the United States.

“His Majesty is being kept fully informed and is naturally deeply concerned, in particular about the impact for the Jewish community,” the palace said.

“His thoughts and prayers are with the two individuals who were injured and offers his heartfelt gratitude to those who so selflessly rushed to their aid.”

Mark Rowley said anti-semitism is being fuelled by “hostile states, the extreme right and the extreme left” who are given space to operate because of “weak” civil debate.

The Metropolitan Police commissioner said:

This is an attack on one community, an attack on one community is an attack on all London’s communities. This was an attack on Londoners. It is an attack on British Jews.

Too many Jewish people in this country feel they have to make choices that no other Briton ever has to make. They have to make choices about how they dress, where they go, or how visibly they live their lives. That’s completely unacceptable and has gone on for far too long.

We also need to be honest about the nature of the threat. Antisemitism is fuelled by hateful and extremist ideologies. It comes from hostile states, the extreme right, and the extreme left.

He added:

These are terrorists and hateful belief systems, but they’re all rooted in racism. They’re given space to operate when civic debate is weak, when hatred is excused, and when people are unwilling to challenge it directly, I also believe now is the time to ask some difficult questions.

Why don’t we see more condemnation of the attacks we’ve seen in recent weeks? Where are all the voices against hate? And where is the solidarity with fellow Londoners who are being targeted simply for who they are? Legitimate debate about international affairs should never be allowed to legitimise antisemitism or violence against British Jews here on the streets of London.

When that line is blurred, attacks become more likely. Let me be clear, we’ve seen a rise in racist and antisemitic hate crime. And whilst I can’t comment on live investigations, we know that some individuals are being encouraged, persuaded or paid to commit acts of violence on behalf of foreign organisations and hostile states.

Terrorism policing assistant commissioner Laurence Taylor said one of the lines of inquiry is whether the Golders Green attack was “deliberately targeting the Jewish community”.

He told reporters:

I would like to praise the bravery of the police officers and members of the public who were at the scene and responded.

At 11.16am this morning, two men, aged 76 and 34, were attacked on Highfield Avenue in Barnet. They suffered stab wounds in the attack, and are now being looked after in hospital.

Metropolitan Police officers responding to the incident were also attacked, leading to the tasering and arrest of a 45-year-old man. He was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, and he remains in police custody. And Counter Terrorism Policing are now leading the investigation.

He added:

I can also confirm that this has now formally been declared a terrorist incident. Our highly-specialised teams of officers are working with the Metropolitan Police to progress this investigation quickly and establish exactly what has happened.

We’re also working with our partners in the security services to ensure we have a full intelligence picture. And one of the lines of inquiry is whether this attack was deliberately targeting the Jewish community in London.

Now, that community are strong, but they will be incredibly concerned to see and hear what has happened today, particularly in the wake of other incidents in recent weeks. And that concern will be felt not just in the capital, but in communities and homes across the UK.

I want to make it clear, that counter terrorism policing and police forces up and down the country are mobilising to provide additional support and reassurance.

Responding to the stabbings in Golders Green, victims’ commissioner for England and Wales Claire Waxman said: “My thoughts are with the victims of today’s horrific antisemitic attack in Golders Green, and with the wider Jewish community who will be deeply shaken by this incident.

“This is yet another attack in a string of disturbing incidents targeting the Jewish community in this country. As a member of the community, I know how relentless and deeply frightening this feels.

“I urge everyone to stand in solidarity with the British Jewish community – not to be bystanders to this hate or to allow it to become normalised and accepted.

“We all have a responsibility to challenge antisemitism and hatred in all its forms, whether online, on our streets, in workplaces, in schools or on university campuses.

“It is now vital that the police and the wider criminal justice system give these attacks the priority and urgency they demand.

“Those responsible must be held to account swiftly and clear reassurance provided to the Jewish community, and more widely, that this hatred will not be tolerated and has no place in this country.”

Local people in Golders Green have expressed their shock at the attack this morning.

Israel Morgenstein, 48, who has lived in the area for 15 years, said: “I was interviewed by the BBC about four years ago. They asked me, “Are you safe in this neighbourhood?” I said, “Listen, the attack will happen. It’s not a question if, it’s a question [of] when.”

“And unfortunately, it’s the first time something like that happens in our community.”

Ben Grosnass, of Shomrim, a local voluntary organisation on the frontlines for the Orthodox community, said volunteers received panicked phone calls from people at about 11.20am saying “there’s a man running around with a knife on Golders Green Road and Highfield Avenue, stabbing people”.

He added that a team of volunteers attended the scene where they were able to follow and apprehend the attacker alongside police.

“We salute our volunteers for the work that they do,” he said. “They put themselves on the front line every day, 24/7.

“We’ve been around for 17 years. we’re never had funding from the government, and we are extremely stretched, and we would appreciate their assistance for our organisation.”

Stephen Bak, another Shomrim volunteer, said: “We are an organisation which would always run towards danger to protect the community. We’re here always for the community, and nothing will ever stop us. No fear no hate.

“[The attacks] has increased a lot in the past couple of years, but in the past few months our volunteers are really stretched. We’re receiving calls all day, everyday … We just really need further assistance from government.”

Baruch Stern, of Gross Butchers, a shop within the cordoned off area at the crime scene, said the government must take more action against antisemitic attacks and that they were “happening in different areas”.

He repeated that it was “terrible, terrible, terrible”.

He added: “I would say the community is always getting messages from Westminster, encouraging messages, they’ll do this and we’ll do that. But at the end of the day, it would be much more encouraging if they will take the words into action and do something about it.

“Because when something happens again and again … there is a big question mark here, what’s going on? Why are these things not getting treated a bit more drastically?

“People feel scared. People feel unsafe. People think, is it really the place for me to be here? Is the UK safe for Jewish people, or is it something we need to think about, moving away?”

More party leaders have reacted to the Golders Green attack.

Green party leader Zack Polanski described it as “horrendous”, adding:

Thinking of the victims, their families and everyone who will once again be shaken by this attack.

Thank you to all of those involved with the emergency response.

Ed Davey, the leader of the Liberal Democrats, said:

Horrifying news from North London.

My heart goes out to the victims, their loved ones and the whole Jewish community. Hatred like this has no place in Britain.

The Government must do more to keep Jewish communities safe and confront antisemitism wherever it appears.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has called on the government to treat the rise of antisemitic attacks as a national emergency.

In a statement on social media, she said:

Jewish people in our country are under constant attack.

This is no longer a growing pattern. There is an epidemic of violence against Jewish people.

It is now a national emergency and needs to be treated as such by the Government and public authorities.

A pizza shop worker on Golders Green Road has said he helped an elderly stab victim after he saw him “bleeding” from his neck after he was attacked.

Tariq Aziz, who works at pizza takeaway shop Slice, told the Press Association: “He came to our shop and then I gave him a tissue and helped him, and then police came suddenly and arrest the guy.”

He said the suspect “wasn’t running away” after the attack and that when the police came, he pointed out the suspect as he was “just walking down there with a knife” and “the police arrested him.”

A large police cordon remains in place in Highfield Avenue, Golders Green, north London.

At least five police cars are at the scene and officers are speaking to residents as they leave the cordon.

Among them is Moishe Grunfeld, 52, who told the Press Association: “It happens in Israel, but happening on our own doorstep, of course it’s shocking.

“I have kids, I have grandchildren.”

Asked how he feels following a spate of antisemitic attacks in north London, Grunfeld said: “You push it away, you have to live on.”

The Labour MP for Finchley and Golders Green, Sarah Sackman, said attacks “on British Jews are an attack on Britain itself”, after two men were stabbed in her constituency.

The courts minister said:

I have been made aware of a serious stabbing in Golders Green. The suspect has been detained. I want to thank the vital work of Shomrim, who apprehended the perpetrator; Hatzola, the police and CST (Community Security Trust).

The attacks on British Jews are an attack on Britain itself. It is unconscionable that Jews are being targeted in this way. I am meeting with the home secretary imminently to discuss the urgent situation.

The incident in Golders Green was raised in the Commons by Hornsey and Friern Barnet MP Catherine West.

She said:

The whole House will be very concerned to hear about the dreadful stabbings this morning in the borough of Barnet.

The Labour MP said she was “very worried about this repeated violence against the Jewish community”.

She added:

We condemn these alleged attacks and we wish the police, the council and all the community services the very best in solving this and bringing to justice those perpetrators of these violent crimes.

Shadow home secretary Chris Philp described the stabbings as “yet another appalling antisemitic attack”.

In a post on X, he said:

This is yet another appalling antisemitic attack. The Jewish community are not being properly protected from this hate.

We have seen Iran sponsoring antisemitic attacks and Islamist extremism run rampant. The Government must urgently step up tangible actions against antisemitism, Iran and Islamist extremism.

Specialist officers from Counter Terrorism Policing are leading the investigation and working with police to establish the full circumstances and any links to terrorism, the Met said in a statement.

Head of counter terrorism policing Laurence Taylor said:

Whilst I must stress this investigation is at an early stage, we are working quickly to understand exactly what happened.

Thank you to those who were in the area at the time and supported the response to this terrible incident.

Detective chief superintendent Luke Williams, who leads policing in the area, added:

Our thoughts are with the victims of this horrific attack. We are grateful to officers who swiftly Tasered and arrested the suspect before he could cause further harm.

We are aware of the significant distress and concern this incident is likely to cause in the face of a number of incidents in the local area. A suspect is in custody, and investigators are considering all possible motives.

Officers will remain at the scene for some time to carry out further enquiries, speak to local people and offer reassurance.

Deputy prime minister David Lammy said the Golders Green attack is “horrific”.

“No one should live in fear because of who they are,” he said.

“We stand with the Jewish community and we must root out this hatred.”

Home secretary Shabana Mahmood said: “My thoughts are with the victims of the abhorrent attack in Golders Green this morning, and the Jewish community.

“I’m grateful for the work of the community and the police in apprehending the suspect, and to the emergency services for their quick response.

“The suspect is now in custody and I’m being kept updated on the situation.”

Antisemitic hatred “is rising once again and we must defeat it,” Downing Street has said following the stabbing of two Jewish men in Golders Green.

“It’s a deeply shocking incident,” the prime minister’s spokesman told reporters.

“A live police investigation is under way so it would be inappropriate for me to go further than that.”

The official also said: “We know that many in the Jewish community face a daily threat of antisemitic hatred. And this is a hatred that is rising once again and we must defeat it.

“That’s why we’re backing the Jewish community with record levels of security funding and clear action to root out any antisemitism wherever it appears including in universities, charities and in the NHS.”

Here are some images from the scene in Golders Green this afternoon:

The latest incident comes after a series of arson attacks targeting Jewish sites in north London.

In a post on social media the Jewish charity the Community Security Trust said:

There has been a knife attack today in Golders Green. The suspect has been arrested. We would like to thank @shomrimlondon, @Hatzola and @metpoliceuk for their swift response.

We are working closely with the police and urge anyone with information to contact the police, Shomrim and CST immediately.

The Board of Deputies of British Jews said:

We are aware of a reported stabbing incident in Golders Green, with two injured. The police have apprehended a suspect. We are liaising with the CST, government and police to understand what has happened and ensure a forceful response.

Responding to news of the attack, Keir Starmer told MPs at prime minister’s questions:

It is deeply concerning to everyone in this house.

There is now a police investigation, and I think we all need to do everything we can to support that investigation and be absolutely clear in our determination to deal with any of these offences, the like of which we have seen too much recently.