An attacker drove a car into a crowd outside a packed synagogue in Manchester, England, on Yom Kippur, a significant Jewish holiday, leading to two fatalities and multiple injuries. The incident, described by police as a “terrorist attack,” involved the assailant subsequently wielding a knife.
Authorities confirmed that the attacker was a UK citizen of Syrian descent. In a rapid response, police shot and killed the suspect shortly after the assault began. Within hours, three additional individuals were arrested, including two men in their 30s and a woman in her 60s, on suspicions related to acts of terrorism.
The victims, both Jewish men, were among the congregants outside the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue when the attack occurred. Reports indicated that three others were hospitalized with serious injuries. Police later clarified that while the attacker was seen wearing a vest resembling an explosive device, it had no functional capability.
As news of the violence spread, Orthodox Jewish worshippers inside synagogues finished their day of prayer and fasting unaware of the unfolding chaos. Aryeh Ehrentreu, a congregant nearby, recounted hearing ambulances and being instructed to close the synagogue doors, heightening concerns among the community.
In response to the attack, Prime Minister Keir Starmer, having cut short his participation in a European summit, announced an increase in security measures for UK synagogues. In a direct address to Jewish communities, he acknowledged a disturbing rise in antisemitism and pledged to protect them.
Global leaders, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, condemned the attack. Netanyahu expressed solidarity with the Jewish community in the UK and lamented the loss of life. Guterres described targeting a place of worship during a holy day as especially heinous.
Witnesses recalled the incident in vivid detail, including the rapid police intervention, which prevented the attacker from entering the synagogue. Reports indicated that the police response occurred within seven minutes of the initial emergency call, demonstrating their prompt action in the face of the threat.
This attack has emerged against the backdrop of heightened tensions stemming from recent events in Israel. In the wake of the October 7, 2023 assault by Hamas, discussions around antisemitism and violence against Jewish communities have intensified across Europe.
Manchester, known for its vibrant Jewish community, has faced security challenges in recent years, including the tragic 2017 bombing at an Ariana Grande concert that resulted in multiple casualties. The community, one of the largest in the UK, is now grappling with the aftermath of this latest violent act.
