Terror Attack in UK: Manchester Synagogue Attack Leaves Two Dead, Three Injured on Yom Kippur
A terror attack struck Manchester, UK on Yom Kippur, 2 October 2025, when Jihad Al-Shamie, a 35-year-old British citizen of Syrian descent, rammed his car into the grounds of the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue in Crumpsall before launching a stabbing spree. The six-minute rampage left two people dead and three seriously injured, before armed police shot him dead. The attacker wore a fake explosive vest.
The incident comes in the midst of growing anti-migrant sentiments in the UK, where debates around immigration and integration have sharpened political and social divides. The attacker’s background as a naturalised citizen of Syrian descent is already fuelling political narratives around migration and security.
Key Details of the Attack 🕵🏾
Perpetrator: Police named the assailant as Jihad Al-Shamie, naturalised in 2006 after arriving in the UK as a child.
Attack Method: A car-ramming outside the synagogue followed by multiple stabbings. Witnesses described the chaotic scene.
Casualties: Two killed, three seriously injured, including two men in their 30s and a woman in her 60s.
Police Response:
Calls first came at 9:31 am.
Firearms unit deployed by 9:34 am.
A Plato counter-terror alert was declared at 9:37 am.
The suspect was shot dead at 9:38 am.
Paramedics arrived by 9:41 am.
Arrests: Police confirmed three others were detained on suspicion of terrorism offences.
Prevent Watch: Investigators stated that Al-Shamie had no prior Prevent referrals.
Political and Community Reactions 🕊️
Prime Minister Keir Starmer cut short his Denmark trip to chair an emergency COBRA meeting, condemning the “vile individual” who attacked Jews and British values.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said only strength and unity could defeat terrorism.
The Board of Deputies and the Jewish Leadership Council said the attack was “sadly something we feared was coming.”
Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis called it an assault on humanity.
Manchester City Council leaders pledged support to the Jewish community.
Security Implications 🔍
The attack came days before the second anniversary of the October 7 Hamas assault, raising fears of symbolic timing.
Research found that 35% of British Jews now feel unsafe in the UK, compared with 9% pre-2023.
Security services, including MI5, raised alert levels nationwide.
Police pledged heightened security at synagogues and Jewish centres.
Eyewitness Accounts 👁️
Worshippers managed to blockade the synagogue doors, preventing further casualties.
Academic Rob Kanter described congregants as remaining calm while the rabbi continued Yom Kippur service.
Residents described scenes of fear but also interfaith solidarity.
Timeline of Events ⏱️
9:31 am – First calls report car ramming and stabbing outside the synagogue.
9:34 am – Firearms officers are deployed.
9:37 am – Operation Plato (marauding terror attack protocol) is declared.
9:38 am – Suspect is shot dead by police.
9:41 am – Paramedics arrive at the scene.
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