Terror Attack on Yom Kippur: Two Killed, Four Wounded in Manchester Synagogue Attack
A horrific act of violence unfolded in Manchester, England, on Thursday, as an assailant targeted worshippers outside a synagogue on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, leaving two people dead and four seriously injured. Authorities have declared the incident a terrorist attack.
The attack occurred around 9:30 a.m. at the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue, as congregants had just begun services. According to reports, the assailant first drove a vehicle into pedestrians before exiting the vehicle and attacking people with a knife.
The assailant was quickly apprehended by police,but not before inflicting serious injuries. While the investigation is ongoing, authorities are exploring potential links to extremist groups, though details regarding their involvement remain scarce.
“Police believe they know the identity of the man who carried out the attack but have not confirmed it,” stated assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor of the Metropolitan Police, which leads the nation’s counter-terrorism policing operations.
The victims of the attack have been confirmed as Jewish individuals. Rabbi Jonathan Romain, of Maidenhead Synagogue and head of the rabbinic Court of Great Britain, described the event as “every rabbi’s or every Jewish person’s worst nightmare,” emphasizing the vulnerability of a community gathered for prayer on its most sacred day.
Witnesses described a chaotic scene. Chava Lewin, a resident living near the synagogue, recounted hearing a loud bang and initially believing it to be a firework before learning of the “terrorist attack” from her husband.Another witness reported seeing a car crash into the synagogue gates before the assailant began stabbing people, including a security guard.
Video circulating on social media appears to show police confronting the assailant, who was lying on the ground near a blue Star of David on the synagogue wall. A bystander can be heard expressing concern about a potential bomb, followed by the sound of a gunshot. A separate body was also visible lying nearby.A video of the scene can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=examplevideo.
Greater Manchester Police Chief Constable Stephen Watson praised the bravery of security personnel and congregants who prevented the assailant from entering the synagogue itself. Following the shooting, authorities detonated an explosion to safely access the suspect’s vehicle.
The attack has prompted widespread condemnation and expressions of support for the Jewish community. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer denounced the assailant’s actions as “vile,” stating that the attack was motivated by antisemitism. “I promise you that over the coming days, you will see the othre Britain, the Britain of compassion, of decency, of love,” Starmer pledged, promising increased police presence at synagogues across the U.K.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also expressed his grief, stating, “Our hearts are with the families of the murdered, and we pray for the swift recovery of the wounded.” He added, “Weakness in the face of terrorism only brings more terrorism. Only strength and unity can defeat it.”
This incident occurs against a backdrop of rising antisemitism in the U.K. According to the Community Security Trust, an advocacy group for British Jews, over 1,500 antisemitic incidents where reported in the first half of the year – the second-highest six-month total on record, following a similar period last year. This surge is linked to the October 7,2023,attack by Hamas on Israel and the subsequent military campaign in Gaza. .
The attack in Manchester also evokes memories of the 2017 suicide bombing at an Ariana Grande concert in the city, which resulted in 22 fatalities. Authorities immediately invoked “Plato,” the national code word for a “marauding terror attack,” and convened an emergency committee.
King Charles III and Queen Camilla expressed their “deeply shocked and saddened” sentiments, offering their thoughts and prayers to those affected and acknowledging the swift response of emergency services. The nation now grapples with the aftermath of this horrific act, reaffirming its commitment to safeguarding its Jewish community and confronting the threat of terrorism.
Pylas and Melley reported from London.
This story has been changed to correct an earlier reference to the location of the Metropolitan Police.
