Credited from: SCMP
The recent terrorist attack at a synagogue in Manchester left two individuals dead and four critically injured as worshippers gathered for Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish calendar. Greater Manchester Police identified the assailant as Jihad Al-Shamie, a 35-year-old British citizen of Syrian descent, who was shot dead by officers who responded to the incident. This attack is the latest in a string of antisemitic incidents in the UK, with authorities viewing the actions of Al-Shamie as a hate-driven assault on the Jewish community, especially during such a significant religious observance, according to SCMP and India Times.
The attack occurred when Al-Shamie drove his car into pedestrians before exiting the vehicle and launching a stabbing spree outside the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue. Emergency services were activated promptly, and witnesses described a scene of chaos as congregants attempted to shield themselves and assist the injured. Following the violence, three additional suspects were arrested, two men in their 30s and a woman in her 60s, as authorities work to investigate further, according to SCMP and Le Monde.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the attack as "horrific," emphasizing the tragedy of it occurring on such a significant day and pledging additional police protection for synagogues across the UK. King Charles III also expressed his shock and sorrow over the event, while various community leaders in the Jewish community reflected on their fears of such incidents escalating, especially given the recent rise in antisemitism following increased tensions in the Middle East, according to India Times and Le Monde.