Television presenter and barrister Rob Rinder, 47, encountered a youth shouting ‘Heil Hitler’ at him on Carnaby Street in Soho, central London. The incident occurred just days after a terror attack in Golders Green where two Jewish men were stabbed.
Personal Anti-Semitic Abuse
Rinder shared the experience on social media, noting a kid on a bicycle approached him, initially appearing friendly before yelling the Nazi salute. ‘On Carnaby Street last night, a kid on a bike cycled up, saw it was me, looked friendly at first, then offered up his favourite “lyric”: “Heil Hitler”,’ he wrote.
He reflected: ‘I wasn’t sure whether to share this. I hadn’t experienced that personally before. The most striking thing: I wasn’t shocked. No threat. No anger. Not a victim. Just: what has he been taught? Hatred is learned. We are not defined by it. We answer it by what we teach.’
Golders Green Attack Details
The confrontation followed a stabbing incident on Wednesday morning in Golders Green, north London. Essa Suleiman, 45, a Somali-born British national, faces charges of attempted murder for attacking Shloime Rand, 34, and Moshe Ben Baila, known locally as Moshe Shine, 76. Their injuries were not life-threatening.
Suleiman also stands accused of attempting to murder his friend of 20 years, Ishmail Hussein, at an address in Great Dover Street, Southwark, earlier that day. Hussein suffered minor injuries. Suleiman appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Friday, charged additionally with possession of a bladed article in public.
Bodycam footage captured officers Tasering the suspect as he advanced with a knife. They then kicked him in the head while shouting ‘drop the knife’ after he was incapacitated.
Rising Anti-Semitism Concerns
Following the attack, Rinder, who is Jewish, criticized months of rhetoric that normalizes hostility toward Jews. ‘This does not come out of nowhere. It follows months of poison that downplays antisemitism, treats Jewish fear as suspect and turns public space into a place where that hostility feels normal,’ he stated. ‘We’re told “antisemitism has no place in our society.” Then act like it.’
Countdown host Rachel Riley echoed the sentiment, calling the attack ‘horrific’ and accusing politicians of stoking the crisis. ‘Waiting for the bingo card response of “no place for antisemitism in our society” from politicians and media who have helped stoke this crisis,’ she posted.
Police Defense Amid Backlash
Green Party leader Zack Polanski faced criticism for reposting a tweet claiming officers excessively kicked a ‘mentally ill man’ in the head. Polanski later apologized, saying: ‘Everyone in leadership has a responsibility for lowering the temperature… I apologise for sharing a tweet in haste. Police responses… do need later reflection.’
Met Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley defended the officers, describing the commentary as ‘inaccurate and misinformed.’ He noted the suspect was armed and potentially carried explosives, crediting the police with preventing worse outcomes.
Escalated Terror Threat
The UK’s terror threat level rose to ‘severe’ on Friday, indicating a highly likely attack. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood declared anti-Semitism a ‘national emergency’ and announced £25 million in extra funding for Jewish community security and policing.
