Two Dead, Three Injured in Manchester Yom Kippur Attack

British police shot dead a man on Thursday who carried out a car-ramming and stabbing attack near the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in Crumpsall, Manchester. Two members of the Jewish community were killed, and three others remain in serious condition.

The attack occurred during Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish calendar. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer confirmed additional police forces are being deployed to synagogues nationwide.

“Earlier today, on Yom Kippur, a vile individual committed a terrorist attack that targeted Jews because they are Jews, and attacked Britain because of our values,” Starmer said.

Timeline of the Attack

Witnesses reported a car being driven into pedestrians near the synagogue, followed by a stabbing spree lasting approximately six minutes.

• 9:31 a.m. (08:31 GMT): GMP received reports of a car driving into pedestrians and a man being stabbed outside Heaton Park Shul.

• 9:37 a.m.: A major incident was declared and Operation Plato was launched, the code for a marauding terrorist attack.

• 9:38 a.m.: Firearms officers fired at the suspected attacker.

• 9:41 a.m.: Paramedics treated four victims at the scene; critically injured victims were transported to hospitals.

• 11:15 a.m.: Police confirmed two people had died, along with the suspect.

• 3:00 p.m.: UK counterterrorism police officially declared the incident a terrorist attack and made two arrests.

A bomb disposal team also examined the suspect’s vest, initially believed to be an explosive device, which was later found non-viable.

Location of the Incident

The attack occurred at the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in Crumpsall, a suburb of north Manchester with around 18,000 residents. Crumpsall has had a Jewish congregation since 1935, and the large Ashkenazi Orthodox synagogue was completed in 1967.

Victims of the Attack

Two men died, and three others were seriously injured. Police have identified the victims as:

• Adrian Daulby, 53, from Crumpsall

• Melvin Cravitz, 66, from Crumpsall

Both were members of the local Jewish community. Formal identification and post-mortems are pending.

Information About the Attacker

GMP stated that the suspected attacker is Jihad al-Shamie, 35, a British citizen of Syrian heritage. Police are still investigating his motivation.

Three others have been arrested: two men in their 30s and a woman in her 60s. They are being held on suspicion of terrorism-related offenses.

Government Response

Prime Minister Keir Starmer left a European summit in Copenhagen to handle the incident. “Additional police assets are being deployed to synagogues across the country to keep the Jewish community safe,” he said.

Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy and Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mark Rowley joined Starmer in an emergency meeting at Downing Street.

Significance of Yom Kippur

Yom Kippur is a day of fasting, prayer, and reflection. Even those who rarely attend synagogue typically participate. Heaton Park Synagogue was holding its morning prayer service (Shacharis) and a children’s service when the attack occurred.

Manchester is home to approximately 30,000 Jews, the largest Jewish community in the UK outside London.

Community Reaction and Anti-Semitism in the UK

Residents in Crumpsall expressed shock and disbelief. Sam Martin, 41, said: “Muslims, Jews, everyone lives here peacefully. I’m just shocked this could happen.”

Anti-Semitic incidents in the UK have been rising. The Community Security Trust (CST) recorded 3,528 cases in 2024, the second-highest in a single year. Since the start of Israel’s war in Gaza on October 7, 2023, incidents of anti-Semitism and Islamophobia have increased worldwide.

Authorities continue to investigate the attack, with arrests ongoing and counterterrorism officers patrolling synagogues nationwide to ensure public safety.