In a shocking incident that sent ripples of alarm across the United Kingdom, a deadly vehicle ramming and stabbing attack outside a synagogue in Manchester has been officially declared an act of terrorism by British counterterrorism police. The tragic event, which occurred on Thursday morning during Yom Kippur – the holiest day on the Jewish calendar – resulted in the deaths of two individuals and left three others in serious condition.
Authorities have confirmed that the assailant was fatally shot by armed officers within seven minutes of receiving the initial distress call. Stephen Watson, the chief constable of the Greater Manchester Police, further detailed that the attacker initially drove a car into a crowd outside the synagogue, then proceeded to assault people with a knife. He was also reportedly wearing a vest that appeared to contain an explosive device, leading to a bomb squad being called to the scene. Two other individuals have been arrested in connection with the assault.
Laurence Taylor, who heads counterterrorism policing in the U.K., stated that while police believe they know the attacker’s identity, formal confirmation is pending. In response to the attack, Mr. Taylor assured the public that “U.K. policing is mobilizing, and it’s mobilizing fast.” He confirmed that police forces nationwide are increasing patrols around synagogues and other Jewish sites to offer reassurance to all affected communities.
This attack unfolded in an area of Manchester known for its large Orthodox Jewish population, intensifying fears within the community amidst ongoing tensions from the two-year conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. The Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue was reportedly filled with worshipers for morning prayers (Shacharis), which began at 9 a.m., just over thirty minutes before police were alerted to the incident. Worshipers were initially held safely inside while the immediate vicinity was secured, then evacuated.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed his profound dismay, stating he was “appalled” by the violence. He emphasized that the timing of the attack on Yom Kippur made it “all the more horrific.” Mr. Starmer promptly returned from a European leaders’ conference in Copenhagen to chair a COBRA meeting, the government’s emergency committee.
Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham praised the rapid police response and highlighted the escalating concern within the Jewish community, noting a rise in antisemitic incidents that has left them living in a “higher state of anxiety.” The Israeli Embassy in the U.K. also condemned the attack, thanking Greater Manchester Police for their swift action and labeling the incident on Yom Kippur as “abhorrent and deeply distressing.”
The authorities have clarified that the suspect did not manage to enter the synagogue, thanks to a quick-thinking witness who alerted the police. Furthermore, police have not yet definitively confirmed whether the suspect was indeed carrying an explosive device, despite initial reports.
This incident also brings to mind Manchester’s painful history with terror. In May 2017, the city was the site of one of Britain’s deadliest attacks when an Islamic State supporter detonated a suicide bomb at the Manchester Arena, killing 22 people, many of them children, and injuring hundreds. Another attack in the city occurred on New Year’s Eve 2018, when a stabbing near Manchester Arena was also declared a terror attack.
The latest attack comes amidst a disturbing global and national surge in antisemitism. The Community Security Trust, a British charity monitoring anti-Jewish acts, documented 1,521 such cases between January and June of this year, including physical assaults, property damage, and online abuse. This represents the second-highest rate ever recorded in the U.K., with the highest peak in early 2024 following the Israel-Hamas conflict. A recent report by the Runnymede Trust also suggested that current protective measures against hate crimes might inadvertently create a “hierarchy of racisms,” with some criticism directed at the conflation of anti-Zionism with antisemitism.
Key Developments:
- Video Footage: Witness footage, verified by The New York Times, shows armed police confronting the attacker outside the synagogue. An officer is heard warning bystanders about a potential bomb before shots were fired as the suspect attempted to rise.
- Enhanced Security: Jewish community centers across Britain, including London’s JW3, have seen increased police presence. London Mayor Sadiq Khan announced that the Metropolitan Police would be stepping up high-visibility patrols around synagogues.
- Political Reactions: Beyond the Prime Minister, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood expressed horror, and Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch called it a “vile and disgusting attack.”
- Jewish Community in Manchester: With approximately 30,000 Jewish residents, Manchester hosts the largest Jewish population in the U.K. outside of London.