A deadly attack at a Manchester synagogue on Yom Kippur left two people dead before police shot and killed the suspect. Authorities are investigating the motive behind the tragic incident.
Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue witnessed a heinous attack in Manchester, England, where two men were killed on October 2, 2025, in a violent incident that sent shockwaves through the community and drew attention and concern from around the world. British police confirmed that the assailant ran a car into pedestrians, then stabbed a security guard among worshippers celebrating Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.
Details of the Attack and Suspect
The attacker was later named by Greater Manchester Police as Jihad Al-Shamie, a British national of Syrian origin, aged 35. It was the same man who was wearing what appeared to be an explosive vest when armed officers arrived. He was killed at the scene, and police subsequently found the device non-viable.
Armed officers confronted the suspect outside the synagogue, and the dramatic moment was caught on video and later shared on social media before being confirmed by news agencies. A police officer warned onlookers:
“He has a bomb, go away!”
The attacker was swiftly subdued following his stabbing spree, which reportedly began immediately after leaving his car and targeting anyone nearby.
Response and Investigation
Chief Constable Stephen Watson said the attacker did not get inside the synagogue because of the “immediate bravery of security staff and worshippers”. Authorities acted quickly to get those in the building out, including the most vulnerable, the elderly and children.
The incident was classed as a terrorist attack and was responded to by Operation Plato, a response to marauding terror attacks. Two men aged in their 30s and a woman in her 60s have been arrested by counter-terrorism officials in connection with the attack on suspicion of preparing for acts of terrorism, as the investigation into the motive continues.
Community Impact and Reactions
This incident is part of an ongoing trend of growing antisemitism in the UK, with 2024 already surpassing 3,500 incidents, the highest number ever recorded in a single year.
Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, delayed a summit in Europe to chair emergency meetings and pledged increased security for Jewish communities. He said:
“It is a hatred that is rising again and Britain must drive it back again,”
This was also solemnly commented on by King Charles himself, who said he was “deeply shocked and saddened” by the violence.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, in the meantime, slammed British authorities for not taking a more uncompromising stand against antisemitism and urged them to take decisive action, as street scenes and campuses in Britain increasingly raise worries.
Broader Context
Britain has been the target of many Islamist militant attacks in the last few decades, like the horrific 2017 Manchester Arena bombing. Extremist groups pose continued threats, police warn. Now, after this Yom Kippur attack, communities are again grieving and preparing to ensure that it does not happen again.
Three other people are still hospitalized in critical condition with injuries from the vehicle and stab wounds. An additional security presence is in place while police attempt to identify the victims and arrest the families affected.
This attack is an unspeakable tragedy for the Jewish community in Manchester. It serves as a stark reminder of the need to continue to stand up and unite against hatred and violence, which are currently on the rise globally.
