At least two Jewish worshippers were killed, while the other three were seriously injured in car thrusts and stab attacks outside the synagogue in Manchester, the English city of Yom Kipur, the holiest day of Judaism.
British Prime Minister Kiel Starmer returned early to Britain from Denmark to chair the emergency meeting, denounced the attack and warned that hatred “again, and Britain must defeat it again.”
He used his speech to reassure the British Jewish community and vowed to do “all” with his power to ensure their safety, starting with “the presence of a more visible police force that protects your community.”
On October 7, 2023, British authorities announced tightening security measures at synagogues across the country after police declared a terrorist incident following Israeli war in Gaza, against the backdrop of rising Hamas-led global global religious hatred.
Here’s what we know about suspects, attacks, and what could come next:
The armed officer quickly arrived at the Heaton Park Hebrew Conference, outside Manchester, Crumpsole, after receiving a call from a public member on Thursday at 9:31am (4:31am ET), city police said.
According to a statement from Greater Manchester Police, the car was driven by a member of the public and a member of security details outside the synagogue was stabbed. The suspect, identified by police as 35-year-old Jihad Al Shami, was killed after being shot by firearms officers.
Police Chief of Greater Manchester Police, Staff Stephen Watson, said the attackers were wearing a vest “with the appearance of an explosive device.” Police later confirmed to CNN that the device was “not viable” and added that they could not provide further details.
Two men were killed in the incident, while three others remained in hospital with serious injuries, police said in a statement. One of the injured was stabbed and the other was hit by a vehicle involved in the attack.
Police said the third man “reported the injury at the hospital that could have been maintained when he later stopped the attacker.”
The video, circulating on social media and permeating the earth by CNN, appears to show an armed police officer screaming instructions to bystanders and worshipers inside the synagogue, pointing his weapons at those lying on the ground.
Police have launched an investigation and declared a “terrorist incident,” chief lawmaker Lawrence Taylor, UK counterterrorism police aide, told reporters at a press conference Thursday.
The Greater Manchester Police had declared Plato. Plato has declared the language of national law used when police deployed armed officers across the military to the scene of the attack, CNN understands.
Photos of rescuers dressed in their arms with charming vests, shocked worshippers and faith leaders embraced each other. Witnesses and local residents recalled scenes of a helicopter circling overhead as emergency responders rushed to the site.
“It’s just scary,” Olivia Gold, who lives in the synagogue, told PA Media News. “We’re a quiet community. Just leave us alone. We don’t want this.”
British counterterrorism police have named the suspect Jihad Al Shami, 35, a British citizen of Syrian descent, but say “the official identification has not yet happened.”
Police said Al Shamie has not been referred to the Home Office’s prevention programme, according to information currently available. The programme is the central plank of the UK’s strategy to combat terrorism.
Alongside Al Shamie, police said three other suspects, two men in their 30s and one woman in their 60s, were in custody and arrested for “competence, preparation and inciting terrorist acts.”
Video obtained by CNN shows police arresting two men less than a quarter of the mile from the synagogue.
In the video you can see several police vehicles parked along the quiet residential areas of the English city. One is escorted from the house, handcuffed by police officers, and another is seen standing on the street.
When the attack occurred, Gary Wernick, one of dozens of people in the Heaton Park Synagogue, said the worshipers had shut the doors to dodge the attackers.
Talking CNN’s Nic Robertson, Wernick explained that the attacker had first arrived at the scene before the prayer began, acting suspiciously and asking the security guard for instructions. He then left and returned about 20 minutes later, shortly after the attack began just after 9am.
Inside the synagogue, six young young children said they feared hiding under their feet, not knowing whether the attacker would enter. When police went inside and ordered them to get everything in, Wernick said he told them not to shoot the children still hiding under their feet.
“I saw someone I knew, someone I was sitting in a chair, or someone I was placed in a bloody chair,” he said. “At that point I knew it was a serious incident.”
Shortly after the attack, Wernick said the congregation continued praying for Yomkipur on the open street and police began an investigation.
“Someone brought out a lot of chairs and lots of prayer books, we sat down and we continued our services on the street,” he said. “We’re not going to allow one person… to change our patterns. This is our life.”
The attack in Manchester fell on Yom Kipur, the day of a crime. The synagogues were especially packed to gather together to perform long service, asking God and others for forgiveness.
Worshipers observe opportunities by refraining from food and drinks. They do not take a bath, do not wear leather shoes or gold jewelry, and do not engage in the intimacy of their spouse.
Crumpsall worshippers were scheduled to meet on Thursday for Shacharis, a morning prayer service, at Heaton Park Synagogue local time (4am). In total, synagogue organizers had scheduled seven events at 12:15pm, including children’s services
European politicians have denounced the timing of the attack and have warned the increasingly difficult anti-Semitistic climate over the past two years, both in Britain and beyond.
More than 3,500 episodes of anti-Semitic sentiment took place in 2024, with over 4,000 people recorded the previous year, according to Community Security Trust, a nonprofit that aims to protect British Jews from terrorism and anti-Semitism.
Between January and July 2025, the charity recorded over 1,500 anti-Semitism incidents. This is the second highest total reported in the first six months of the year.
How did lawmakers and faith leaders react?
British politicians, mayors and leaders of the entire political spectrum expressed sadness after the attack. Others have announced additional police assets other than synagogues, including London’s British capital.
Suspicion said attackers at the Manchester synagogue targeted “Jews because they are Jews,” adding that Britain must defeat this rising hatred.
“Today, the holiest day for the Jewish community, in Yom Kipur, a sleazy individual has committed a terrorist attack that attacks Jews because they are Jews and attacks Britain for our values,” the prime minister told a news conference.
Two prominent British Jewish organizations said the attack “sadly, it’s coming what we were afraid of.”
Opposition leader Kemi Badenok has condemned the “despicable and disgusting” attacks. “I know that a lot of our Jewish community feels shaken up. They deserve to know that they’re not alone,” the Conservative leader said in the post of X and Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham about the “terror” among local residents.
British King Charles III and Queen Camilla were “deeply shocked and saddened” by the attacks of the synagogue. “Our thoughts and prayers lie with all those affected by this appalling incident and we are extremely grateful for the prompt action of emergency services,” Wang said in a statement.
The Council of Muslims, advocating several mosques and Muslim organizations in the UK, has condemned “unfairly” and “violence.”
CNN contacted Britain’s Chihulabi, Ephraim Milbis, for comments.
Priority arrived in London late Thursday afternoon to host the UK government’s COBRA Commission (a summit led by a group that was convened in the context of a national emergency).
Massive violence is rare in the UK.
However, the former Prime Minister has chaired similar meetings in the past, particularly fatal atrocities, including the Westminster Bridge terrorist attacks in 2017, the Manchester Arena terror attacks a few months later, and the London Bridge terrorist attacks in 2019.
