Two Jews were killed and three others seriously wounded Thursday morning in a terror attack outside a synagogue in Manchester. Police said the attacker rammed worshippers with a car and then began stabbing them before being shot dead by officers.
Authorities initially feared the assailant was wearing an explosive belt, and bomb disposal units were dispatched to the scene. Greater Manchester Police later confirmed the attack was terror-related. Two additional people were arrested as part of the investigation, though their suspected role remains unclear.
The attack unfolded outside the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation in the Crumpsall neighborhood, as worshippers gathered for Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish calendar. One of the victims was the synagogue’s security guard.
Witnesses describe panic and heroism
Witnesses said the attacker deliberately targeted Jews. Kurram Rafiq, who was driving nearby, told the Daily Mail that he saw a car hit a man on the sidewalk. At first, he thought it was an accident. “Then the driver got out and stabbed the man lying on the ground. It happened right outside the synagogue. He stabbed at least two more men. He stabbed anyone wearing a kippah,” Rafiq said.
He described the assailant as “robotic” in his movements. “There were no shouts, no religious cries. He was cold and focused, as if he had a job to do.”
Chava Lewin, a local resident, said, “The moment he got out of the car, he started stabbing anyone nearby. He went for the guard and tried to break into the synagogue. Someone blocked the door. Everyone was in total shock.”
British media reported that Rabbi Daniel Walker, who has led the congregation since 2008, quickly locked the synagogue doors and prevented the attacker from entering. “He was incredibly calm,” Lewin said. “He’s a hero. It could have been much worse.”
Witnesses said bystanders attempted to distract the assailant by throwing flowerpots at him but did not approach because they feared he had explosives strapped to him. Police shot him dead seven minutes after the attack began.
Global condemnation
Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the attack in the strongest terms. “Earlier today, on Yom Kippur, the holiest day for the Jewish community, a vile individual committed a terrorist attack that targeted Jews because they are Jews, and attacked Britain because of our values,” he said.
He added that the timing of the assault made it “all the more horrific,” and announced that additional police would be deployed to synagogues across the country. Starmer cut short a trip to Denmark and returned to Britain to chair an emergency meeting.
King Charles III said he and Queen Camilla were “deeply shocked and saddened.”
Israel’s embassy in London condemned the “appalling and deeply distressing” attack, saying it was in close contact with the Manchester Jewish community.
Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar issued a sharp statement blaming the British government for failing to act against what he called “blatant antisemitic and anti-Israel incitement.” He said the U.K. had “allowed this toxic wave of antisemitism to continue” and urged Starmer’s government to take action.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel mourned with British Jews. “Our hearts are with the families of the murdered, and we pray for the swift recovery of the wounded. As I warned at the U.N.: weakness in the face of terrorism only brings more terrorism. Only strength and unity can defeat it.”
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said Britain was paying the price for “embracing and protecting terrorists.” He added, “Terror makes no distinction between Israelis and Britons. Today it struck Jews, tomorrow it will strike the entire Western world.”
President Isaac Herzog spoke with leaders of the Manchester Jewish community and revealed that earlier this week he had written to King Charles expressing concern about the rise of antisemitism across the U.K. and the Commonwealth. “Antisemitism is the world’s most reliable early warning sign of a major threat to freedom,” he quoted the late Chief Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks as saying. Herzog said King Charles’ moral leadership would be crucial for Jewish communities facing escalating hostility.
The attack evoked memories of Yom Kippur 2019, when two people were shot dead outside a synagogue in Halle, Germany, after an assailant posted an antisemitic manifesto online.
First published: 18:56, 10.02.25