The Jewish community in Manchester, England, is reeling after a horrific attack during Yom Kippur services on Thursday at the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in Crumpsall. Jihad Al-Shamie, a 35-year-old British citizen of Syrian descent, rammed his car into a group of worshippers before embarking on a stabbing spree. The attack resulted in the death of two individuals and left three others injured.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) responded swiftly to the emergency calls received at 9:31 a.m. and confronted Al-Shamie who was wielding a knife and wearing what appeared to be a suicide vest. Within minutes, officers shot him dead at the scene. The vest was later determined to be a hoax by explosives experts. GMP has since arrested three others in connection with the incident on suspicions of involvement in terrorist activities.
The GMP quickly declared the tragedy a terrorist act, setting off a cascade of reactions from the public and officials alike. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer condemned the attack and assured the community of increased security measures, while London Mayor Sadiq Khan promised heightened patrols around synagogues. Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis lamented the loss as a consequence of persistent anti-Semitic sentiments.
As the news spread, social media erupted with comments and speculations. Some users pointed to Al-Shamie's name as an indicator of his motives, while others criticized certain media outlets for initially casting suspicions on far-right groups rather than addressing the attacker's Islamist ties. The BBC, which reported on the incident, noted that the injured included individuals hit by the car and one who sustained injuries during the police intervention.
Investigators have confirmed that Al-Shamie, who entered the UK as a child and was naturalized in 2006, had no prior Prevent referrals, indicating he was not on the radar of the government's anti-radicalisation program. Eyewitness accounts praised the synagogue's security and Rabbi Daniel Walker for their quick action, which prevented the attacker from entering the building and causing further harm. The community is now grappling with the aftermath of the attack, the deadliest on a Jewish target in the UK in recent years.
