A man has appeared in court after a suspected hate crime involving a knife left “Jewish communities shaken,” police have said.

Gabriel Abdullah, 34, has been charged with affray and possession of a bladed article in a public place following the incident in Hamilton Road, Golders Green, at around 1.30pm on Monday.

The Metropolitan Police was alerted to “reports of a man with a knife,” and said members of the public intervened before officers arrived at the scene.

A suspect was arrested within 10 minutes of police being called, the force added.

Chief Superintendent Sara Leach, responsible for policing in northwest London, said the incident had “understandably caused significant concern and left our Jewish communities shaken.”

She added: “I want to be clear, this matter is being treated as a hate crime and we are dedicating significant resources to the investigation…

“I want to pay tribute to the members of the public who bravely intervened before police arrived.”

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The Met’s Counter Terrorism Command carried out a full assessment of the incident but it is not being treated as a terror investigation.

Ch Supt Leach said: “We have been carrying out additional patrols in Golders Green over recent months and these will now increase in light of this incident.”

Abdullah, from Golders Green, appeared at Willesden Green Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.

He was remanded in custody ahead of a further hearing at Harrow Crown Court on 27 February.

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