Manchester, UK: A terror attack near a synagogue in Manchester on Thursday has left three people dead, including the attacker and two members of the Jewish community, while three others remain in critical condition.
Counter-terrorism police have identified the attacker as 35-year-old Jihad al Shamie, a British citizen of Syrian descent. Authorities confirmed that three additional suspects are currently in custody in connection with the incident.
The attack took place near the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in the Crumpsall area during Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. Witnesses reported that a car was deliberately driven into pedestrians before the assailant stabbed a man. Greater Manchester Police (GMP) responded within minutes, shooting the attacker dead.
Police said the suspect was wearing a vest resembling an explosive device, leading to the evacuation of nearby areas for public safety.
British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer strongly condemned the attack, calling it both an assault on the Jewish people and on British values. He announced that additional police deployments had been ordered to synagogues across the country.
“This vile act targeted Jews because they are Jews, and attacked Britain because of our values. I promise we will do everything possible to keep our Jewish community safe,” Starmer said.
Starmer cut short his attendance at a European leaders’ summit in Copenhagen and returned to London to chair an emergency security meeting at Downing Street, which was also attended by Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy and senior police officials.
Greater Manchester Police declared the incident a “PLATO” (Marauding Terrorist Attack), a classification used for large-scale attacks aimed at causing maximum casualties.
The Community Security Trust (CST), a UK charity monitoring antisemitic threats, has recorded a surge in incidents in recent years. In 2024, a total of 3,528 antisemitic incidents were reported, the second-highest ever recorded, with a further rise observed since the Gaza conflict began in October 2023.
Police have urged the public to avoid the area and have opened a Casualty Bureau portal for families seeking information about their loved ones. Worshippers who were initially locked inside the synagogue for safety have now been safely evacuated.
