URGENT UPDATE: Police have detained six individuals on suspicion of terrorism following a brutal attack on a synagogue in Manchester that left two men dead. The incident occurred on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, igniting widespread grief across Britain’s Jewish community.
On Thursday, October 12, 2023, at approximately 5:30 PM local time, Jihad Al-Shamie, a 35-year-old man, drove his car into a crowd outside the Heaton Park Congregation Synagogue. He subsequently attacked several individuals with a knife, attempting to breach the synagogue’s doors. Tragically, congregation members Melvin Cravitz, 66, and Adrian Daulby, 53, lost their lives during this horrific event. An armed police officer mistakenly shot Daulby while responding to the chaos.
Authorities reported that three additional men sustained serious injuries and are receiving treatment in local hospitals. Al-Shamie, a British citizen of Syrian descent, was shot dead by police during the incident. Officials have confirmed that he was wearing what appeared to be an explosives belt, which has since been determined to be fake. At the time of the attack, Al-Shamie was on bail related to an alleged rape but had not been formally charged.
In response, police arrested three men and three women aged between 18 and their 60s in the Greater Manchester area. These arrests are part of an investigation into the “commission, preparation, and instigation of acts of terrorism.” Detectives are currently assessing whether Al-Shamie acted alone or if others were involved in planning the attack.
This incident has shaken the foundations of the Jewish community in the UK and sparked urgent discussions around the rising tide of antisemitism. Following the attack on October 7, 2023, which saw Hamas launch a deadly assault on Israel, there has been a notable increase in recorded antisemitic incidents, according to the Community Security Trust. Politicians and community leaders are expressing concerns that recent pro-Palestinian demonstrations may incite anti-Jewish sentiment.
Just yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy faced backlash during a vigil honoring the victims, where he was interrupted by shouts of “shame on you.” Prime Minister Keir Starmer has urged protest organizers to “recognize and respect the grief of British Jews this week” and reconsider any planned demonstrations.
Despite these calls, pro-Palestinian protests took place over the weekend in both Manchester and London. Approximately 100 demonstrators gathered in Manchester, braving heavy rain to wave Palestinian flags and call for an end to the conflict in Gaza. In London, around 1,000 people protested against the banning of Palestine Action, a direct-action group that has been labeled a terrorist organization by the UK government.
Over **1,500 arrests** have been made across similar protests since the group was proscribed in July, with more than **130** individuals facing terrorism charges. Campaigner Jonathon Porritt emphasized the importance of showing respect to the victims while still advocating for those suffering in Gaza, stating, “But I don’t think that means that we should be asked to give up on our right to stand up for those who are being devastated by an ongoing, real-time genocide in Gaza.”
As investigations continue and the community grapples with the aftermath of this tragic attack, the world watches closely for further developments. The emotional toll on the victims’ families and the Jewish community at large continues to deepen, prompting urgent discussions about safety, rights, and coexistence in an increasingly polarized environment.
