A horrifying act of terrorism unfolded on Thursday in Manchester, England, when an assailant deliberately drove a car into a crowd outside a synagogue, then proceeded to stab multiple individuals. This attack, occurring on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, tragically resulted in two deaths.
Police swiftly arrived at the scene, fatally shooting the attacker, identified as 35-year-old Jihad al-Shamie, a British citizen of Syrian descent. While authorities have unequivocally labeled the incident a terrorist attack, counterterrorism investigators are actively working to determine the precise motives behind this heinous act.
In connection with the assault outside the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue, three other individuals—two men in their 30s and a woman in her 60s—have been apprehended on suspicion of involvement in the commission, preparation, or instigation of terrorist acts. British officials further disclosed that Jihad al-Shamie had arrived in the United Kingdom as a very young child and was granted British citizenship in 2006. The identities of the three arrested individuals have been withheld due to privacy regulations.
Chief Constable Stephen Watson of the Greater Manchester Police revealed that the assailant, who also gravely wounded three others, was wearing what appeared to be an explosive vest. However, subsequent investigations confirmed it was not an operational device.
This violent incident in Manchester has exacerbated existing anxieties among Jewish communities across Europe and the United States, who have witnessed a concerning increase in antisemitic incidents linked to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.
A video captured by U.K. police showed the attacker’s actions at the Manchester synagogue. The footage depicted a man attacking the synagogue, ramming his car into people, and then stabbing others with a knife. Police fatally shot the assailant, identified as a 35-year-old British citizen of Syrian descent, confirming the deadly nature of the incident.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer of Britain swiftly condemned the attack as ‘absolutely shocking,’ denouncing 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 government committee meeting.
Starmer lamented that Britain was once again grappling with a resurgence of hatred.
The assault sent shockwaves through Manchester’s diverse Jewish community, a city known for its significant Jewish and Muslim populations. In response, police protection has been significantly bolstered at Jewish cultural and religious sites nationwide. Photos also showed people who live near the synagogue waiting on Thursday during the police investigation.
Observing the solemnity of Yom Kippur, many members of the local Jewish community remained unaware of the unfolding tragedy for hours, having no access to their phones during the holy day.
Chen Bass, a 27-year-old mother of two residing nearby, voiced the community’s profound unease, stating, ‘There’s a new feeling among the community that this place is no longer safe. We fear we will witness more such incidents.’
Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham highlighted to the BBC the Jewish community’s increasing vulnerability, noting a ‘rising incidents of antisemitism’ and a ‘higher state of anxiety because of the times that we’re living in.’
Police officials confirmed that Jihad al-Shamie had no prior records indicating he was a potential threat to Britain’s official counterterrorism operations.
Searches are currently underway at two residences connected to the attacker and those arrested: one in Crumpsall, close to the synagogue, and another in Prestwich, approximately two miles away.
Manchester, a major English metropolitan area, boasts the largest Jewish population outside London, totaling around 30,000 residents. The city’s rich multicultural fabric is a testament to its history of global immigration.
Since 2017, Britain has endured 19 other violent incidents officially classified as terrorism, with motives ranging from Islamist (11 cases) to right-wing (5 cases) and left-wing (1 case), while two attacks remained of unclear motivation.
Although no prior declared terrorist attacks directly targeted synagogues, British security services have successfully foiled multiple plots over the last decade aimed at Jewish individuals and places of worship, including schemes by neo-Nazis and Islamic State sympathizers. Girls were also seen walking near the synagogue on Thursday.
According to the Community Security Trust, a British charity monitoring antisemitism, all forms of anti-Jewish hate incidents have surged since the Israel-Hamas war began in October 2023. The first half of this year alone saw 1,521 recorded anti-Jewish hate episodes, encompassing 73 assaults and 84 instances of damage or desecration to Jewish property, many of which targeted synagogues.
Manchester has a grim history with terrorism, having been the site of one of Britain’s deadliest attacks in May 2017. On that occasion, an Islamic State supporter detonated a powerful bomb among Ariana Grande fans as they exited a concert at Manchester Arena.
That horrific event resulted in 22 fatalities and hundreds of injuries. The 22-year-old suicide bomber, Salman Abedi, orchestrated the plot with his younger brother, Hashem Abedi, who is now serving a life sentence.
Footage of Thursday’s brutal assault, including the dramatic moment officers fatally shot the attacker, rapidly circulated across social media platforms.
Local resident Martin Hamer, who was driving nearby, initially mistook the chaos for a traffic accident. However, he soon witnessed the assailant attempting to breach the synagogue through a window.
Authorities acknowledge that the tragedy could have escalated significantly were it not for the ‘immediate bravery of security staff’ who successfully thwarted the attacker’s entry into the synagogue, a point emphasized by Chief Constable Watson.
Eighteen-year-old local resident Osher Luftag recounted that a friend’s father courageously braced the synagogue doors from within, preventing the attacker’s forced entry.
According to the synagogue’s website, morning prayers had commenced at 9 AM, with scores of worshippers gathered inside. Yom Kippur, a profoundly solemn day, mandates 25 hours of fasting and prayer, emphasizing repentance and a spiritual connection with God. Floral tributes were later left near the synagogue, with one resident remarking, ‘It’s a crazy moment.’
Recounting the harrowing scene, Mr. Hamer stated, ‘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 the video footage he captured on his phone to Facebook.
The video displayed two armed police officers, rifles aimed, at the attacker lying on the ground outside the synagogue, with a severely injured victim nearby. An officer urgently shouted to those near the synagogue gates, warning, ‘He has a bomb! Go away!’
In a tense standoff, as the attacker attempted to rise, police discharged at least one more shot, causing him to fall back down.
The day’s brutal violence drew widespread condemnation from across Britain’s political spectrum and from leaders worldwide.
Kemi Badenoch, leader of the opposition Conservative Party, expressed her outrage on social media, asserting that individuals were ‘murdered simply for being Jews.’ She highlighted the poignant timing of the attack, occurring on a day when Jews reflect on past failings and aspire for future improvement.
Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth shared a somber message on social media, stating, ‘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 further emphasized that the incident was ‘not only an assault on the Jewish community, but an attack on the very foundations of humanity.’
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu decried the attack as ‘barbaric,’ conveying his nation’s grief ‘with 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.’
From Downing Street, Prime Minister Starmer addressed the Jewish community directly, acknowledging the deep fear they must be experiencing: ‘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.’