A devastating terrorist attack rocked Manchester, England, on Thursday, the solemn day of Yom Kippur. An assailant deliberately drove a car into a crowd outside a synagogue, then proceeded to stab individuals, leaving two dead and seriously wounding three others. Authorities swiftly declared it an act of terrorism.
Law enforcement identified the attacker as Jihad al-Shamie, a 35-year-old British citizen of Syrian origin. Counterterrorism units are actively investigating to uncover the full motives behind this horrific incident.
In connection with the assault at the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation, three individuals—two men in their thirties and a woman in her sixties—have been apprehended on suspicion of involvement in acts of terrorism. Their names have been withheld due to ongoing privacy protocols.
Chief Constable Stephen Watson of the Greater Manchester Police confirmed that officers arrived at the scene within minutes of emergency calls. They neutralized the perpetrator, who was shot and killed. The assailant was wearing what appeared to be an explosive vest, though investigators later confirmed it was a hoax device.
This outbreak of violence in Manchester intensifies widespread concerns for Jewish communities across Europe and the United States, who have seen a troubling rise in antisemitism linked to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, visibly shaken, condemned the ‘absolutely shocking’ attack, labeling the assailant a ‘vile individual who wanted to attack Jews because they are Jews.’ He promptly returned from a European leaders’ conference in Copenhagen to convene a government emergency committee.
Starmer lamented a resurgence of ‘hatred that is rising once again’ across Britain.
The attack deeply unsettled Manchester’s Jewish community, in a city celebrated for its diverse Jewish and Muslim populations. This incident has led to increased police presence and protection at Jewish cultural and religious sites nationwide.
Observing Yom Kippur, many Jewish community members near the synagogue were without their phones, leaving them unaware of the unfolding tragedy for hours.
Chen Bass, a 27-year-old Orthodox Jewish mother of two residing nearby, expressed a somber sentiment: ‘It’s this new feeling among the community that this place is no longer safe. We think we will see more and more of this.’
Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham told the BBC that the Jewish community has been enduring ‘rising incidents of antisemitism’ and living ‘with a higher state of anxiety because of the times that we’re living in.’
Police confirmed that Jihad al-Shamie was not previously known to Britain’s official counterterrorism operations as a potential threat, according to their records.
Authorities are currently searching two residences: one in Crumpsall, England, near the synagogue, and another in Prestwich, approximately two miles away. Both locations are linked to the attacker and the two individuals arrested.
Manchester, a vibrant metropolitan hub and home to the UK’s largest Jewish population outside London (around 30,000 people), boasts a rich multicultural tapestry woven by global immigration.
Since 2017, Britain has experienced 19 other incidents officially classified as terrorism. Of these, eleven were Islamist-motivated, five right-wing, one left-wing, and two remained of unknown motive.
While synagogues were not direct targets in previous declared attacks, British security services have successfully disrupted multiple plots targeting Jewish individuals and places of worship over the last decade. Officials noted these threats originated from both neo-Nazis and supporters of the Islamic State.
According to the Community Security Trust, a UK charity monitoring antisemitism, anti-Jewish hate incidents have surged across all categories since the Israel-Hamas conflict began in October 2023. In the first half of this year alone, they documented 1,521 anti-Jewish hate episodes, comprising 73 assaults and 84 instances of property damage and desecration, some occurring at synagogues.
This isn’t Manchester’s first encounter with devastating terrorism; in May 2017, an Islamic State supporter detonated a powerful bomb as Ariana Grande fans exited a concert at Manchester Arena.
That attack claimed 22 lives, including several children, and injured hundreds. The 22-year-old suicide bomber, Salman Abedi, conspired with his younger brother, Hashem Abedi, who is now serving a life sentence for his role.
Footage of Thursday’s assault, including the moment police fatally shot the attacker, rapidly circulated on social media.
Local resident Martin Hamer, driving through the area for work, initially mistook the scene for a traffic accident. However, just before police arrived, he witnessed the assailant attempting to breach the Heaton Park synagogue through a window.
Chief Constable Watson credited the ‘immediate bravery of security staff’ for preventing a potentially far deadlier outcome by blocking the attacker’s entry into the synagogue.
Eighteen-year-old local resident Osher Luftag recounted the ‘crazy moment,’ noting that his friend’s father had bravely held the synagogue doors shut from the inside, thwarting the attacker’s entry.
The synagogue’s website indicated that morning prayers, or Shacharis, had commenced at 9 AM, with scores of worshippers inside. Yom Kippur, a profoundly sacred day of fasting, repentance, and spiritual closeness to God, entails 25 hours of intense devotion.
Recalling the harrowing scene, Mr. Hamer described realizing, ‘As we got nearer, we realized there was a guy dead on the floor and there was another guy fighting for his life in front of the car.’ He captured the unfolding events on his phone, with his daughter later sharing the video on social media.
The circulating images depicted two armed police officers, rifles aimed, confronting the attacker lying prone outside the synagogue, while a gravely injured victim lay close by. An officer urgently warned onlookers at the synagogue gates to retreat, shouting, ‘He has a bomb! Go away!’ When the attacker attempted to rise, police fired at least one shot, causing him to fall back down.
Condemnations for the day’s brutal violence poured in from political leaders across Britain and around the globe.
Kemi Badenoch, the leader of Britain’s opposition Conservative Party, took to social media to lament that individuals were ‘murdered simply for being Jews.’ She highlighted the poignant timing, occurring on Yom Kippur, a day when Jews reflect on past wrongs and aspire for future improvement. Badenoch urged the nation to engage in similar introspection.
She emphasized, ‘These are questions we urgently need to ask ourselves as a nation.’
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denounced the attack as ‘barbaric,’ expressing his nation’s profound grief alongside the Jewish community in the U.K.
U.S. Ambassador to Britain, Warren Stephens, described the events as ‘sickening’ and a ‘stark reminder of the rise of antisemitism and religious intolerance in our societies.’
Speaking from Downing Street, Mr. Starmer addressed the Jewish community directly: ‘To every Jewish person in this country, I also want to say this: I know how much fear you will be holding inside of you.’
He concluded with a message of reassurance, stating, ‘Britain will come together to wrap our arms around your community and show you that Britain is a place where you and your family are safe, secure and belong.’