Green Party leader Zack Polanski has come under growing criticism after sharing a social media post condemning police officers involved in the arrest of the suspect in the Golders Green attack.
Two Metropolitan Police officers Tasered and kicked the suspect in the head while attempting to disarm him after he allegedly stabbed two Jewish men in north London on Wednesday.
Polanski reposted a message on X that claimed officers were “repeatedly and violently kicking a mentally ill man in the head when he was already incapacitated by Taser.”
The repost quickly drew criticism from across the political spectrum. Anthony Slaughter, who leads the Green Party in Wales, said the decision to share the post appeared “inappropriate.”
Green Party deputy leader Rachel Millward also appeared to distance herself from the comments, describing the officers as “brave” and saying the incident would have been “beyond terrifying.” She added that she was “extremely grateful” to the emergency services who responded.
The criticism intensified after Mark Rowley publicly defended the officers’ actions. In a letter sent to Polanski on Thursday, Rowley said he was “disappointed” that the politician had amplified what he described as “inaccurate and misinformed commentary.”
Speaking on Friday, Rowley said the use of “extreme force” in the circumstances was “completely reasonable.” He explained that he had not written the letter lightly but felt compelled to respond because criticism from a prominent public figure risked undermining confidence in officers acting to protect the public.
The suspect, Essa Suleiman, 45, has been charged with attempted murder and is due to appear before Westminster Magistrates’ Court.
Police said officers believed the suspect may have been carrying an explosive device when they confronted him. According to the Metropolitan Police, even after being Tasered, he refused to show his hands, remained violent, and continued to pose a serious threat.
Body-worn camera footage released by the force shows officers repeatedly ordering the suspect to “get down on the ground” before deploying a Taser and later shouting “drop the knife” during the struggle.
The footage was released after videos circulated on social media showing officers kicking the suspect several times in the head while attempting to remove a knife from his possession.
In a statement issued Thursday evening, a Green Party spokesperson said Polanski had viewed the footage “like everyone else” and did not know the full circumstances surrounding the incident.
“Zack knows it was a very difficult situation for the authorities,” the spokesperson said. “But we do need to understand more about the response.”
Polanski has not publicly responded to Rowley’s letter and has declined further requests for comment.
The incident has also attracted scrutiny from the Independent Office for Police Conduct, which confirmed it had received a mandatory referral from the Metropolitan Police relating to injuries reportedly sustained by the suspect during the arrest.
Defending his officers, Rowley said those criticizing the response were unlikely to understand the realities of frontline policing.
“Those officers are nothing short of extraordinary,” he wrote. “They were on the scene within minutes, and their actions undoubtedly prevented further injury and saved lives.”
He added that apprehending violent and dangerous offenders is often “a full-contact and messy task” that can appear shocking to observers unfamiliar with operational policing.
“Officers need to know that when they act decisively to protect Londoners, they will be supported,” Rowley said, warning against rhetoric that could further inflame tensions.
Criticism of Polanski’s actions has continued from other political figures. Louise Ellman, joint chair of the Board of Deputies, described his social media activity as a “gross misjudgement.”
“I think he has found an area that seems to give him popularity, at least in the short term,” she said. “He should be very careful about what he is promoting.”
Meanwhile, Luke Taylor, the Liberal Democrats’ spokesperson for London, called Polanski’s reposting “utterly disgraceful.”
“That response, alongside his previous comments on the perception of fear within the Jewish community, tells us a great deal about the Green Party’s values,” Taylor said.
Suleiman remains in custody. Police have said he has a history of serious violence and mental health issues and is believed to have been involved in a separate incident in south-east London a day before the attack.
The Metropolitan Police have formally classified the Golders Green stabbings as a terrorist incident.
Following the attack, Polanski described the violence as “horrendous” and said his thoughts were with the victims, their families, and everyone affected by the incident.
