BRITISH Prime Minister Keir Starmer has denounced the deadly stabbing attack at a Manchester synagogue as a “vile” act of terrorism driven by antisemitic hatred, as authorities confirmed increased security at Jewish places of worship across the country.
“This was an attack on Jews because they are Jews,” Starmer said after chairing an emergency COBRA meeting in London.
“I promise you that over the coming days, you will see the other Britain, the Britain of compassion, of decency, of love. I promise you that this Britain will come together to wrap our arms around your community and show you that Britain is a place where you and your family are safe, secure and belong.”
AP reported on Friday that the assault occurred on Yom Kippur — the holiest day in the Jewish calendar — outside the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue. Police say the attacker, a 35-year-old British citizen of Syrian descent named Jihad Al-Shamie, drove his vehicle into pedestrians before stabbing multiple people.
Two Jewish victims were confirmed dead. Three others remain in serious condition.
Al-Shamie was shot and killed by officers at the scene after reportedly attempting to detonate what appeared to be an explosive device. Authorities later confirmed he was not carrying a bomb, though his vest had raised initial concerns.
An explosive was safely detonated in his car by police following the incident.
The Metropolitan Police, which leads counter-terror operations in the UK, classified the attack as an act of terrorism. According to initial findings, Al-Shamie was not on any known government watchlist and had not been flagged by counter-extremism programmes.
Greater Manchester Police Chief Constable Stephen Watson praised synagogue security staff and worshippers for their bravery, stating that their quick actions likely prevented a greater tragedy.
“The attacker attempted to storm the synagogue after ramming the gates but was held back,” he said.
Video circulating online showed armed officers confronting the suspect as he lay on the pavement beneath a Star of David on the synagogue wall. Moments later, he was shot as he attempted to move.
Three others — two men in their 30s and a woman in her 60s — have since been arrested on suspicion of terrorism-related offences.
King Charles III issued a message of support, saying he and Queen Camilla were “deeply shocked and saddened” by the “appalling incident.” He extended his thoughts and prayers to the victims and praised emergency services for their swift response.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also expressed solidarity with Britain’s Jewish community. “Our hearts are with the families of the murdered, and we pray for the swift recovery of the wounded,” he said. “As I warned at the UN: weakness in the face of terrorism only brings more terrorism. Only strength and unity can defeat it.”
Rabbi Jonathan Romain, head of the Rabbinic Court of Great Britain, described the incident as “every Jewish person’s worst nightmare.”
He said: “Not only is this a sacred day, the most sacred in the Jewish calendar, but it’s also a time of mass gathering.”
The attack comes amid a reported rise in antisemitic incidents across the UK. The Community Security Trust (CST) recorded over 1,500 incidents in the first half of 2025 alone — the second-highest mid-year total on record. Tensions have surged following the October 2023 Hamas attacks on Israel and the subsequent Israeli military operations in Gaza.
Starmer returned early from a European leaders' summit in Copenhagen to chair the government's response. He announced an immediate increase in police presence at synagogues and Jewish schools nationwide.
The UK’s emergency response protocol for terror attacks, known as Operation Plato, was enacted during the incident, placing local and national security services on high alert.
Manchester was previously the site of the UK’s deadliest terrorist attack in recent years — the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing, which claimed 22 lives.
The government has vowed to support Jewish communities and confront the growing threat of domestic extremism. - October 3, 2025
