Heroes drove at Golders Green knifeman and alerted mother with baby to ‘terrorist targeting Jews’

Two men helped alert the Jewish community to a suspected terrorist armed with a knife, targeting victims seemingly at random.

Isaac Cohen, 41, and Ido Birman, 38, were hailed as ‘heroes’ after raising the alarm and driving at the attacker who was seen lunging at people walking in Golders Green, north London.

It came as the Met’s commissioner said the suspect had ‘a history of serious violence and mental health issues’.

A knifeman is seen in CCTV appearing to run at Jewish people walking in the suburb. One man thankfully spots him and starts sprinting screaming ‘help’ in distressing footage.

Ido said: ‘We were in the car we saw him running with a knife it was terrible.

‘We screamed out of the car and started honking the horn.

‘We told a woman and baby to run – and we saved her. It was very frightening.’

The father of the baby told Metro: ‘They shouted at my wife to get back inside with my baby. He saved their lives. She ran back into the house. They were heroes.’

Two men, aged 76 and 34, were stabbed in the confirmed terror attack in Golders Green.

A shocking video shows the first victim appearing to put on his skullcap just seconds before a suspect lunges at him with what appears to be a blade.

There is no lead-up to the attack or words exchanged before the suspect in a coat and backpack, attacks the man in Highfield Avenue at around 11.15am.

Shortly after the footage, the attacker is confronted by a member of Shomrim who stares down the suspect.

A source told Metro the alleged attacker had ID on him with a ‘Muslim name’.

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 on Wednesday.

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 arrest him.’

He added: ‘The blood was coming from his neck.’

Aziz said he believed the victim was stabbed twice.

Speaking at the scene amid heckles of ‘resign’ and ‘shame on you’, Sir Mark Rowley praised his officers and the community for confronting the suspect, who they thought might be carrying an explosive.

‘I also want to pay tribute to my officers, who were on the scene within a few minutes, and whose actions undoubtedly prevented further injury and saved lives.

‘Before coming here today, I met with them. They’re nothing short of extraordinary. They confronted a man they believed to be a terrorist, who refused to show his hands, who was violent and continued to pose a clear threat.

‘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, whilst he continues to try and attack and stab 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.’

A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said the King was on a state visit to the US but was still concerned.

They said: ‘His Majesty is being kept fully informed and is naturally deeply concerned, in particular about the impact for the Jewish community.

‘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.’

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