Attack During Sacred Observance
Two men were killed and several others injured on Thursday after a violent attack at the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in Manchester during Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish calendar. Police said the assailant, identified as 35-year-old Jihad Al-Shamie, a British citizen of Syrian descent, drove into pedestrians and stabbed a security guard before being shot dead by armed officers. Authorities later confirmed the suspect had been wearing a fake explosive vest.
Video verified by Reuters showed police firing at the suspect inside the synagogue’s perimeter. Witnesses described chaos as officers warned onlookers of a possible bomb before opening fire. A bomb disposal unit later confirmed the device was not viable.
Terrorism Declared, Arrests Made
Greater Manchester Police confirmed the attack was being treated as a terrorist incident. Three people — two men in their 30s and a woman in her 60s — were arrested on suspicion of preparing acts of terrorism. Britain’s most senior counter-terrorism officer, Laurence Taylor, said communities across the country were now “grieving and worried about their safety” and pledged a rapid mobilization of security forces.
The suspect and two members of the public died, while three others remain hospitalized in serious condition. Police praised the quick actions of security staff and worshippers, which they said prevented the attacker from entering the synagogue itself.
Government and Global Reactions
Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who cut short a European summit to return to London, vowed to bolster protection for Jewish communities. “We must be clear, it is a hatred that is rising once again, and Britain must defeat it once again,” Starmer said. Additional police units have been deployed to synagogues nationwide.
King Charles expressed his shock and sadness at the events, while Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Saar criticized the UK for what he described as a failure to curb antisemitism. He accused British authorities of “allowing rampant antisemitic incitement” to persist. Leaders across Europe, including French President Emmanuel Macron, expressed solidarity with Britain’s Jewish community.
A Broader Climate of Fear
The attack comes amid record-high levels of antisemitism in the UK following the Gaza conflict. The Community Security Trust recorded more than 3,500 incidents in 2024, making it the second-worst year on record. Jewish organizations said the violence was something they had feared as global antisemitic incidents continue to rise.
Witnesses described scenes of panic as worshippers — including elderly men in traditional dress and children — were evacuated from the synagogue. “The second he got out of the car he started stabbing anyone near him,” one neighbor said.
The Manchester assault has revived memories of past terror incidents in Britain, including the 2017 suicide bombing at an Ariana Grande concert in the same city. Security officials stressed that while Islamist extremist threats remain, far-right terrorism is also a growing concern.