Essa Suleiman, 45, allegedly targeted Shloime Rand, 34, and Norman Shine, 76, with a knife in north London on 29 April.
Before heading to Golders Green, it is alleged he attacked his friend of 20 years, Ishmail Hussein, at his home in Southwark, south London.
The Somalia-born defendant was charged with three counts of attempted murder and possessing a black-handled knife in a public place.
On Friday, he appeared at the Old Bailey for a preliminary hearing before Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb.
He appeared by video link from high-security Belmarsh prison and confirmed his identity.
Prosecutor Deanna Heer KC set out the allegations, accusing Suleiman of first attacking Mr Rand who suffered a punctured lung, and then stabbing Mr Shine, who suffered multiple injuries, including to the neck.
A plea hearing was set for 25 September with a provisional three-week trial at the Old Bailey scheduled from 1 March, 2027.
The suspect was remanded into custody before his next hearing.
