Two Jewish men stabbed in Golders Green in suspected terrorist attack

"We got a phone call to the hotline saying that there's a man stabbing people and we sent our members to the scene." It was not yet known at the time on Wednesday morning, but a volunteer of the Jewish security group Shomrim was dispatching their members to what would later be formally declared a terrorist incident by the Metropolitan Police. Two Jewish men, aged 34 and 76, were stabbed while in Golders Green, north London. Both are in a stable condition, but the attacks came after a spate of arson attacks against Jewish property in London in recent weeks. "We were first on scene, and we apprehended him together with the police," Ben Grossnass from the organisation adds. Shomrim carries out civilian security patrols through Jewish communities in north London. It has 40 volunteers who are on call 24/7, and who actively work with local people to prevent crime and increase safety by working with police and other agencies, according to its website. Shomrin volunteer Yonathan Elkouby, 33, told PA Media he drove to the scene from his nearby job after hearing about the incident and blocked the suspect with his car - helping police officers detain him. "At that moment, I had no idea that two people had been stabbed, all I knew was the guy had a knife. "Afterwards when I think about it, it was quite traumatising, because I was thinking the guy did come towards me, he was going towards the police, to all the people around him." Elkouby said he held the attacker's legs and one of his hands while the man was on the ground, after police officers had Tasered him. Set up in 2008, Shomrim is a group of just under 50 volunteers that aims to make people feel more secure in areas of north London with large Jewish populations. But, despite ongoing efforts, Grossmann told the BBC that the Jewish community had been dealing with a spate of arson attacks - including a few weeks ago when Hatzola ambulances, run by a Jewish medical charity, were destroyed. "We haven't got over yet from the previous incident, and this has happened, and we've had small incidents in the past three, four weeks, also targeted at synagogues and community centres," he added. "It's just one after another and we [are] just crying out to the government to listen to us, feel the pain of the community. What's going on? "How much more can we take? We're still in shock from the previous instance and this one happened. "The government do have the resources to assist, we would very much welcome that rather than the words which unfortunately is not good enough at this time." Reacting later on Wednesday, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood insisted the government will "strain every sinew" to keep the Jewish community safe following the attack. Mahmood said she will not "tolerate a situation where our Jewish citizens have to lead smaller lives" to keep themselves safe and vowed that "an enhanced police presence" will continue. She said the initial circumstances of the attack suggest it is correct for the Met Police to designate it as a terrorist incident. The Met said its officers responded at 11:16 BST on Wednesday after receiving reports that people had been stabbed in Highfield Avenue, which runs off Golders Green Road. Footage posted on social media after the attack happened appears to show an older man putting on a kippah as he waits at a bus stop, before the attacker lunges at him. Local pizza shop worker Tariq Aziz said he helped the 76-year-old stab victim after he saw him bleeding from his neck. "He came to our shop and then I gave him a tissue and helped him, and then police came suddenly and arrest the guy," Aziz told PA Media, adding that the 45-year-old suspect "wasn't running away" following the attack. Aziz said he pointed him out to police as he was "just walking down there with a knife". Separate online footage showed the suspect approaching Met Police officers. One officer Tasers him, sending the suspect to the floor, while shouting at him to drop the knife. While the suspect is on the floor, the officers is seen to kick the suspect in the head as they try to disarm him. The man was then arrested on suspicion of attempted murder. "He has a history of serious violence and mental health issues," Met Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said during an update from the scene on Wednesday afternoon. Despite heckles from a small group of people near to Rowley who were calling for him to resign, the commissioner said the police is doing its best to protect the Jewish community. Rowley also praised the "extraordinary" actions of the officers and local volunteers who apprehended the man - who remains in custody. "They confronted a man they believed to be a terrorist, who refused to show his hands he was violent and continue to pose a clear threat," Rowley told reporters. "These were not armed officers and they feared that he was carrying an explosive device, using only their training, their courage and their tasers. They managed to detain him while he continued to try to attack and stop them. "They will tell you they were simply doing their jobs, but without their bravery I dread to think what the outcome would have been. I also want to recognise the extraordinary voluntary first responders from the community, including the Shomrim." "We're all shocked," Bak told the BBC. "Our kids are in shock and fear and having a hard time at the moment, just going up, walking, going to the shops, going to synagogue. "So we have to pull together like we normally do, and just try and continue life."