Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley has found himself in an unexpected debate with the Green Party over the finer points of subduing a man who stabbed two people, because apparently that's where we are now.
The kerfuffle began after Green Party leader Zack Polanski shared a post on X criticizing officers who Tasered and repeatedly kicked the suspect in the head while trying to prise a knife from his hand following the attack on two Jewish men in Golders Green. The post claimed officers were "repeatedly and violently kicking a mentally ill man in the head when he was already incapacitated by Taser."
Sir Mark fired back with a letter expressing his "disappointment" that Polanski had amplified "inaccurate and misinformed commentary," and suggested the post's author was likely "another armchair critic" rather than someone with actual scene experience. The Met chief noted that the officers were unarmed and feared the suspect might be carrying an explosive device - even after being Tasered, the suspect "refused to show his hands, was violent and continued to pose a clear threat."
The force released body-worn camera footage showing officers repeatedly shouting for the suspect to "get down on the ground" before the Taser deployment, followed by commands to "drop the knife." Social media video of the arrest shows officers kicking the man in the head several times during the struggle for the weapon.
A Green Party spokesperson conceded that Polanski "doesn't know the full picture" but argued that "we do need to understand more about the response." Sir Mark, for his part, declared the officers "nothing short of extraordinary" and said their actions "undoubtedly prevented further injury and saved lives."
"Apprehending violent and dangerous criminals is a full contact and messy task which may appear shocking to observers with little experience of policing in the real world," Sir Mark wrote, in what could double as a tagline for a gritty police procedural.
The suspect, Essa Suleiman, 45, remains in custody on suspicion of attempting to murder Shloime Rand, 34, and Moshe Shine, 76. Sir Mark revealed that Suleiman has a history of serious violence and mental health issues, and may be linked to a separate incident in south-east London the day before. The Met has formally declared the attack a terrorist incident.
Polanski had earlier described the attack as "horrendous" and expressed sympathy for the victims, their families, and everyone "who will once again be shaken by this attack" - a sentiment that apparently doesn't preclude a bit of Monday-morning quarterbacking.