Following a fatal terrorist incident outside a synagogue in Manchester during Yom Kippur, the United Kingdom has escalated its security measures nationwide. The attack resulted in two fatalities and left three others critically wounded.
The assailant, identified as Jihad al-Shamie, a UK national of Syrian descent, executed a violent assault involving a vehicle ramming and stabbing near the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue on Thursday. Armed police responded swiftly, fatally shooting him within seven minutes of the initial emergency call after discovering he was wearing what appeared to be an explosive vest, which was later confirmed to be non-operational.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) named the deceased as Adrian Daulby, 53, and Melvin Cravitz, 66, both residents of Crumpsall, a neighborhood known for its significant Jewish population. Three additional victims remain hospitalized with serious injuries.
The authorities promptly classified the event as a terrorist attack and detained three more individuals-two men in their 30s and a woman in her 60s-on charges related to the “commission, preparation, and instigation of terrorist acts.”
Interior Minister Shabana Mahmood announced an intensified security presence across the country, with particular focus on synagogues.
“We are maintaining the highest level of vigilance,” Mahmood stated during an interview with Sky News. “This has led to an increase in police deployment not only in Manchester but throughout the UK. Our foremost concern is ensuring the safety of all citizens, enabling them to live and thrive peacefully within the Jewish community and beyond.”
Prime Minister Keir Starmer cut short his participation at a European summit in Denmark to convene an emergency meeting in London, vowing to “exert every effort” to safeguard the Jewish population. He planned to visit Manchester later on Friday.
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The attack has also drawn sharp criticism from Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, who accused UK officials of neglecting to address widespread antisemitic and anti-Israeli rhetoric.
This incident occurs amid escalating tensions in the UK linked to the Israel-Gaza conflict, which has sparked numerous pro-Palestinian rallies.
On Thursday evening, a “Global Movement for Gaza UK” demonstration took place in London, resulting in 40 arrests, including six for assaults on police officers. The Metropolitan Police have urged organizers to postpone another planned protest supporting the banned Palestine Action group scheduled for Saturday, though the request has not been heeded.
Mahmood expressed disappointment over the decision to proceed with protests so soon after the Manchester tragedy. “I found it deeply troubling that these demonstrations continued last night,” she remarked. “Such actions are fundamentally un-British and dishonourable.” She called on both organizers and participants to reconsider and allow the Jewish community space to mourn.
Britain’s Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis, who was preparing to visit the attack site, described the event as a “heartbreaking manifestation of Jew hatred.”
“This is a day we hoped would never arrive, yet feared might,” he shared on X. “For years, we have witnessed relentless antisemitism on our streets, campuses, social media, and beyond.”
Many Orthodox Jews only became aware of the attack late Thursday after concluding Yom Kippur prayers and fasting, having disconnected from electronic devices for the holiday.
Alex, a 31-year-old Jewish business executive living near the synagogue and acquainted with one of the victims, told AFP, “It’s a reality we know can happen. In recent years, everyone in our community has faced some form of antisemitism. The conflict in Israel has undoubtedly intensified feelings of hostility.”
This assault is regarded as one of the most severe antisemitic attacks in Europe since October 7, 2023, when Hamas militants launched an offensive against Israel, igniting the Gaza war.