A man has appeared in court charged with the attempted murders of three people during a series of knife attacks in London.
Essa Suleiman is accused of stabbing two Jewish men in Golders Green on Wednesday, having already attacked another man over a personal dispute in south London.
The prosecutor Emma Harraway told the court that Suleiman had attacked Ishmail Hussein at his home in Southwark. The prosecution said Suleiman had then travelled to Golders Green in north-west London – arriving shortly after 11am – and attacked two Jewish men.
Prosecutors said he first set upon Shloime Rand, 34, before attacking 76-year-old Norman Shine. They said both men were clearly identifiable as Orthodox Jews by their clothing.
They said another member of the public, who was not named in court, saw the attack on Shine and tried to disarm Suleiman. Further charges are being considered in respect of his alleged actions towards that man.
Prosecutors said Suleiman had been arrested after officers had used a stun gun, adding that Suleiman had suffered a “medical episode” while on the ground that required hospital treatment.
Suleiman appeared in the dock at Westminster magistrates court on Friday to face the charges for the first time. He wore a grey tracksuit and spoke only to confirm his name and address.
Suleiman stood in the dock with his hands behind his back as the chief magistrate, Paul Goldspring, remanded him in custody and sent the case to the Old Bailey. The next hearing is set for 15 May.
