A horrific attack unfolded in Manchester, England, on Thursday, the solemn day of Yom Kippur, as an assailant used a car to ram into people outside a synagogue before embarking on a stabbing spree. The incident, which claimed two lives, has been officially declared an act of terrorism by authorities.
Law enforcement swiftly responded, neutralizing the attacker, identified as 35-year-old Jihad al-Shamie, a British citizen of Syrian origin. While police have labeled the assault a terrorist act, counterterrorism units are actively investigating to determine the perpetrator’s motives.
In the wake of the violence outside the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation, three individuals were apprehended by police. They face charges related to the commission, preparation, or instigation of terrorist acts.
Authorities withheld the names of the arrested individuals, citing privacy regulations, but confirmed they include two men in their thirties and a woman in her sixties. Officials also disclosed that al-Shamie immigrated to the UK as a young child and received British citizenship in 2006.
According to Stephen Watson, Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police, the attacker, who severely injured three others, wore what appeared to be an explosive vest. Subsequent investigations, however, confirmed the device was inert.
This incident in Manchester underscores growing concerns across Europe and the U.S. about the safety of Jewish communities, especially with a recent surge 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 perpetrator as ‘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 national emergency committee meeting.
Starmer lamented that Britain is once again grappling with a ‘hatred that is rising.’
The incident has deeply unsettled Manchester’s Jewish community, residing in a diverse city with significant Jewish and Muslim populations, and has also triggered increased police protection at Jewish cultural and religious venues nationwide.
Many Jewish residents in the synagogue’s vicinity remained unaware of the attack for hours, as they were observing Yom Kippur and abstaining from phone use.
Chen Bass, a 27-year-old Jewish mother of two from the area, expressed a widespread 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 informed the BBC that the Jewish community has been experiencing a noticeable rise in antisemitic incidents, leading to ‘a higher state of anxiety because of the times that we’re living in.’
Police records indicate that al-Shamie was not previously identified as a potential threat to Britain’s counterterrorism operations.
Investigators are currently searching two residences: one in Crumpsall, close to the synagogue, and another in Prestwich, approximately two miles away. These locations are associated with the attacker and those arrested.
As one of England’s major metropolitan areas, Manchester boasts the largest Jewish population outside of London, about 30,000 people. This rich cultural tapestry is a testament to immigration from across the globe.
Since 2017, Britain has endured 19 other violent incidents officially classified as terrorism. Of these, 11 were attributed to Islamist motives, five to right-wing extremism, one to left-wing extremism, and two remain without a clear motive.
While synagogues had not been direct targets in previous declared terrorist attacks in Britain, Jewish individuals and houses of worship have been the focus of multiple thwarted plots over the last decade. These plots were orchestrated by groups ranging from neo-Nazis to Islamic State sympathizers.
The Community Security Trust, a UK charity monitoring antisemitism, reports a rise in all forms of anti-Jewish attacks since the Israel-Hamas conflict began in October 2023. The first half of this year alone saw 1,521 anti-Jewish hate incidents, including 73 assaults and 84 cases of damage to Jewish property, some targeting synagogues.
Manchester tragically endured one of Britain’s most devastating terrorist attacks in May 2017, when an Islamic State supporter detonated a powerful bomb amidst Ariana Grande concert-goers at Manchester Arena.
That horrific event claimed 22 lives 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.
Visuals of Thursday’s brutal assault, including the moment police fatally shot the attacker, rapidly circulated across social media platforms.
Manchester resident Martin Hamer, initially assuming a traffic accident, witnessed the attacker attempting to breach the synagogue through a window as he drove by.
According to Chief Constable Watson, the attack could have resulted in a far greater loss of life were it not for the ‘immediate bravery of security staff’ who successfully prevented the assailant from entering the synagogue.
Eighteen-year-old Osher Luftag recounted that a friend’s father heroically braced the synagogue doors from within, effectively blocking the attacker’s entry.
The synagogue’s website confirmed that morning prayers, attended by scores of congregants, had commenced at 9 AM. During Yom Kippur, a deeply solemn day of repentance and spiritual closeness to God, adherents observe a 25-hour fast and dedicate themselves to prayer.
Hamer described the grim scene: ‘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.’ His daughter later shared his phone footage on Facebook.
The circulated images depicted two armed police officers with rifles trained on the prone attacker outside the synagogue, a critically injured victim nearby. An officer urgently warned bystanders at the synagogue gates, ‘He has a bomb! Go away!’
The attacker then attempted to rise, prompting police to fire at least one shot, sending him back to the ground.
Outpourings of condemnation for the day’s violence resonated across Britain’s political landscape and from leaders worldwide.
Kemi Badenoch, leader of the opposition Conservative Party, took to social media to declare that the victims were ‘murdered simply for being Jews.’ She highlighted the profound irony of the attack occurring on Yom Kippur, a day when Jewish people reflect on past shortcomings and future improvements.
Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth expressed deep sorrow in a social media post: ‘British Jews are now grasping the full extent of today’s terror attack at the Heaton Park Synagogue in Manchester. This is the day we hoped we would never see, but which deep down we knew would come.’
He emphasized that the attack was ‘not only an assault on the Jewish community, but an attack on the very foundations of humanity.’
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denounced the ‘barbaric’ attack, stating his nation ‘grieves with the Jewish community in the U.K.’
U.S. Ambassador to Britain, Warren Stephens, found the incident ‘sickening,’ calling it a ‘stark reminder of the rise of antisemitism and religious intolerance in our societies.’
From Downing Street, 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, affirming that ‘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.’