Trial date set for man who stabbed Jewish men in north London

LONDON: A 45-year-old man accused of stabbing two Jewish men in north London and another man in the capital last month will stand trial next March, a judge said Friday.
Essa Suleiman, a UK national born in Somalia, allegedly targeted Shloime Rand, 34, and Norman Shine, 76, during the April 29 knife rampage in Golders Green, which is home to a large Jewish population.
It was the latest incident to rock Britain’s Jewish community.
He also allegedly attacked his friend of 20 years Ishmail Hussein at his home in south London, hours before the later twin stabbings.
Suleiman was charged earlier this month with three counts of attempted murder and possessing a knife in a public place and was remanded in custody.
Appearing Friday at the Old Bailey by video link from Belmarsh Prison in southeast London, Suleiman spoke only to confirm his name and date of birth as he sat with his arms folded.
Prosecutor Deanna Heer said after attacking Hussein with a knife at his home, he traveled by public transport to 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,” she told the court.
Rand, who had been studying at a nearby synagogue, suffered a punctured lung while Shine “sustained a number of stab wounds” which required several days of hospital treatment, Heer added.
Judge Bobbie Cheema-Grubb set a plea hearing for September 25 and a provisional three-week trial at the Old Bailey from March 1, 2027.
She ordered Suleiman remain in custody.