MANCHESTER, England – A violent attack on a synagogue in Manchester during Yom Kippur morning services on Thursday has been declared an act of terrorism, resulting in two fatalities and three serious injuries before the assailant was shot and killed by police.
The assailant, identified by British counterterrorism police as Jihad al-Shamie, 35, a British citizen of Syrian descent, began his assault by ramming a vehicle into people outside the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation in north Manchester. He then exited the car and began stabbing bystanders with a knife.
According to Chief Constable Stephen Watson of the Greater Manchester Police, armed officers responded within minutes of the initial 911 call and fatally shot the attacker, preventing him from entering the synagogue where a large number of worshippers were gathered.
Key Points
- The attack occurred on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar
- Two people were killed and three seriously injured
- The attacker, Jihad al-Shamie, 35, was shot dead by police
- Three suspects have been arrested in connection with the attack
- Security has been increased at Jewish sites across the UK
Attack Details and Timeline
The Greater Manchester Police said they received a call at 9:31 a.m. on Thursday morning reporting that a car had been driven toward members of the public, and that several people had been stabbed.
The attacker was wearing a vest that initially appeared to be an explosive device but was later determined to be non-viable. Two members of the Jewish community were killed in the attack, and three injured individuals remain hospitalized in serious condition.
Community Impact
The attack has rattled the city of Manchester, which is home to the largest Jewish community in the U.K. outside of London. Local residents expressed a mix of shock, terror, and grim resignation.
"It's this new feeling among the community that this place is no longer safe," said Chen Bass, a 27-year-old mother living in the area. "We will see more and more of this."
Observant Jews generally do not use phones on Yom Kippur, so many in the community were unaware of the attack until after the holy day concluded.
National and International Response
Prime Minister Keir Starmer cut short a trip abroad to chair an emergency government meeting. In a televised address from Downing Street, he condemned the "vile individual" who "committed a terrorist attack that attacked Jews because they are Jews, and attacked Britain because of our values."
Security was immediately increased at Jewish hubs and cultural sites across the country. The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said the Metropolitan Police would be "stepping up high visibility policing in and around synagogues."
International condemnation flowed in from world leaders, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who called the attack "barbaric," and French President Emmanuel Macron, who expressed solidarity with the victims.
Investigation Continues
The investigation is ongoing, with counterterrorism police conducting searches at two properties linked to the attacker. Three other individuals—two men in their 30s and a woman in her 60s—have been arrested on suspicion of terrorism-related offenses and remain in custody.
Police records do not show that al-Shamie had previously been flagged to Britain's official counterterrorism program as a potential threat. Officials stated he had entered the United Kingdom as a "very young child" and was granted British citizenship in 2006.
The attack comes amid rising antisemitism in Britain, with the Community Security Trust reporting 1,521 antisemitic incidents in the first half of 2025 alone.
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