A devastating incident unfolded outside a synagogue in Manchester, northwestern England, when a vehicle ramming and stabbing attack tragically killed two people and left three others in serious condition. The British counterterrorism police have officially declared this horrific event an act of terrorism.
The attack occurred on the morning of Yom Kippur, the holiest day on the Jewish calendar, deeply shaking the local and national community. Laurence Taylor, the head of counterterrorism policing in the U.K., confirmed that police believe they know the assailant’s identity, though formal confirmation is pending. The attacker was shot and killed by police at the scene within minutes of the first reports.
Details of the Attack and Investigation
Eyewitnesses reported that an individual drove a car directly into people outside the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue, then exited the vehicle and began attacking victims with a knife. Chief Constable Stephen Watson of the Greater Manchester Police later revealed that the attacker was wearing what appeared to be an explosive vest. Armed officers responded within seven minutes of the initial 999 call, preventing the suspect from entering the synagogue. Due to “suspicious items on his person,” a bomb disposal unit was called to the scene. Two arrests have been made in connection with the assault, with specialized counterterrorism teams leading the investigation.
The decision to classify the incident as terrorism aligns with Britain’s legal definition, which covers violence perpetrated “for the purpose of advancing a political, religious, racial or ideological cause.” Investigators are meticulously examining all available evidence, including witness accounts and the suspect’s background, to fully establish the motive.
Heightened Security and Community Concerns
In the wake of the attack, the British government has significantly increased security presence at Jewish community centers and synagogues across the nation. London Mayor Sadiq Khan announced that the Metropolitan Police would step up visible policing in and around synagogues in the capital. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who cut short a conference in Copenhagen to return to the UK and chair a national emergency committee meeting (COBRA), vowed, “We will do everything to keep our Jewish community safe.”
The attack has exacerbated existing anxieties within the Jewish community, which has experienced a surge in antisemitic incidents recently. Organizations like the Community Security Trust, which works with police on security for Jewish institutions, urged communities to remain vigilant, keep synagogue doors closed, and avoid gathering outside communal sites.
A Broader Context: Rising Antisemitism
This attack occurs during a period of escalating antisemitism globally and within Britain. The Community Security Trust reported 1,521 antisemitic incidents between January and June of this year, marking the second-highest rate ever recorded in the UK. This follows a record 2,019 cases in the first half of 2024, a period heavily influenced by the October 2023 attack on Israeli civilians by Hamas and Israel’s subsequent military campaign in Gaza.
The Runnymede Trust, a British think tank, highlighted in a recent report that current measures to protect Jews from hate crimes may be perceived as creating a “hierarchy of racisms,” potentially worsening divisions. The report also pointed out the frequent “conflation of anti-Zionism and criticism of Israel with antisemitism when this is not justified.”
Echoes of Past Tragedies in Manchester
Manchester has unfortunately been the site of previous terror attacks. In May 2017, a suicide bombing at the Manchester Arena after an Ariana Grande concert killed 22 people, including several children, and injured hundreds. Another stabbing incident near Manchester Arena on New Year’s Eve 2018 was also declared a terror attack. Since 2017, Britain has seen 19 violent attacks classified as terrorism, with motives ranging from Islamist to far-right and far-left ideologies.
Reactions from Leaders and Eyewitnesses
Reactions poured in from across the British political spectrum. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood expressed her horror, as did Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch, who condemned the “vile and disgusting attack,” noting the profound significance of its occurrence on Yom Kippur. King Charles III and his wife expressed deep sadness and shock at the “horrific attack,” especially on such a holy day. Israel’s Embassy in the U.K. also condemned the violence, praising the swift response of the Greater Manchester Police.
An eyewitness, Martin Hamer, recounted seeing the attacker attempting to enter the synagogue through a window moments before police arrived. He described a chaotic scene, stating, “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.”