Shomrim volunteer who tackled Golders Green suspect recalls making 'split-second decision' on GB News: 'I will always protect my community'

A Shomrim volunteer who helped police tackle the suspected Golders Green attacker has told GB News that he will "always protect his community".

Speaking to GB News, Jonathan Elkouby recalled making the "split-second decision" to help apprehend the suspect after two Jewish men were stabbed on Wednesday.

Recalling what happened, Mr Elkouby told host Patrick Christys that he heard on his radio that a man was "walking with a knife on Golders Green Road", and decided to take action.

He told GB News: "I was in Hendon, and a call came through our radio that there's somebody walking with a knife on Golders Green Road.

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"Obviously, I dropped everything and just came straight down to assist, to detain somebody with a knife. As I arrived, I see the suspect as I'm crossing into Golders Green."

The volunteer recalled seeing the police "making a U-turn" at the scene, where he concluded that the suspect was just metres away.

He said: "I arrived, and I saw the police making a U-turn and realised if they’re making a U-turn, he must be around there and they’d probably just gone past him. I just had that judgment in my mind.

"So I decided to look out for where he would be. I see the guy, and he happens to be right in front of me in my car, so he tried to avoid me and go to the side."

Mr Elkouby then had to make a "split-second decision" to help detain the suspect: "I had a split-second decision to actually use my car to block him, so I kind of went to opposite traffic just to block the road.

"And he basically ended up holding back, and that kind of deters him going back towards the police."

The volunteer then helped police to physically restrain the attacker, who has still armed with a knife.

He told GB News: "I came out and assisted the police with taking him down and detaining him, and he did have a knife. From the moment I arrived until I managed to have hands on him, it took quite a few minutes.

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"You've got a guy walking around with a knife, the police are trying to Taser him and it's not working on him - all you have is your hands and your body because if the Taser is not working, you don't know how long it's going to take till it works."

Mr Elkouby noted that the attacker had also "come towards him" with the knife before being restrained.

He recalled: "Eventually he turned around toward me with his knife, I looked at him and started walking and running toward me.

"I think he eventually collapsed because of the taser, but I thank God that I was able to hold myself together and make the right decision. I don't think I was scared."

The volunteer admitting to "not feeling okay" after the incident, and had to take time to reflect on what had happened.

He told GB News: "After the event, I thought that was okay. Then actually, I thought maybe I'm not okay. I did have some time to relax and record and actually see what happened.

"It could have been a lot worse, although it's very unfortunate. Today I dropped everything, I jumped in my car and came down here to help the community."

Vowing to "always protect his community", Mr Elkouby concluded: "We’re basically volunteers protecting the community. Unfortunately, today, it showed that it's not as safe as we thought it could be.

"Obviously, it's been getting worse recently, we know that. I'm still on duty, non stop. I will always stand to protect my community."

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