The Golders Green suspected knifeman who is alleged to have stabbed two Jewish victims and friend of 20 years has appeared at the Old Bailey for the first time.

Essa Suleiman, 45, tried to murder his friend Ishmael Hussein at his home in Southwark before going to north London to attack Shloime Rand, 34, and Moshe Shine, 76, it is claimed.

The British national, born in Somalia, is charged with three counts of attempted murder and one count of possession of a bladed article in a public place over what police declared a terrorist incident on Wednesday, April 29.

He appeared on a video link from HMP Belmarsh wearing a grey prison tracksuit, slumped backwards with his arms crossed on a red three–seater bench.

Suleiman spoke only to confirm his name and age and appeared relaxed throughout the hearing.

At the Old Bailey today, prosecutor Deanna Heer KC said: 'The case arises out of events that occurred on April 29 2026 when Mr Suleiman firstly attended an address in south London where he attacked a friend of his, Mr Hussein, with a knife at his home address.

'Having left that location he then made his way by public transport to the area of Golders Green where he was seen mid–morning on Highfield Avenue in Golders Green.

'He then set about attacking two people both of whom were obviously members of the orthodox Jewish community by the way they were dressed at the time.

'The first, Shloime Rand, 34, had been studying at a synagogue in Highfield Avenue. He was attacked by the defendant who came towards him, stabbed him once to the chest, causing a punctured lung.

'The defendant then attacked Norman Shine, 76, also wearing Jewish clothing. Mr Shine sustained a number of stab wounds which caused him to be taken to hospital where he remained for several days.'

Ms Heer said Mr Shine had suffered a number of stab wounds, including to the neck.

She added: 'The incident came to an end when another member of the public intervened to try to disarm the defendant and take the knife from him. Subsequently, the emergency services were called and arrived.'

It is alleged Suleiman called Mr Hussein's phone several times before he was buzzed into his home at around 7:50am.

It is said he was armed with a four–inch kitchen knife and 'tried to stab Mr Hussein' in his upper body, but his friend 'fended off the attack'.

Westminster Magistrates Court heard how the defendant wanted to fight Mr Hussein 'till either one of us dies'. 

Suleiman is then accused of travelling to Brent Cross underground station before going on to Golders Green.

Police were called to Golders Green at 11.16am following reports of people stabbed.

The suspect was tasered before being arrested.

Mr Rand has since been released from hospital while Mr Shine remained in hospital in a stable condition after suffering a wound to the neck.

Suleiman previously worked as a Somali translator, a security guard, and sometimes at sports pitches at a school in Wiltshire.

Suleiman, who became a British citizen in 1995, came to the UK from Somalia legally as a child. 

There are legal restrictions on reporting Suleiman's address, as it is supported housing for mental health patients under the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust where he had been a patient.

Fixing the next hearing, Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb said: 'I have made some directions about your case. We will meet again when there is a further hearing on this case on 25 September this year. You will appear again via CVP.'