Two Killed in Manchester Synagogue Attack on Yom Kippur — What We Know About the Deadly Incident

Rabbi Daniel Walker (third from left) joins armed police and Jewish community members outside Heaton Park synagogue in north Manchester after Thursday's attack.(Paul Currie/AFP via Getty Images)

Manchester, England — October 2, 2025 - Two worshippers were killed in what authorities are treating as a terrorist attack outside the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in north Manchester on Thursday, as the Jewish community observed Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.Greater Manchester Police confirmed the deaths followed a vehicle ramming incident and a stabbing, with the suspect—a 35-year-old British man of Syrian descent—taken into custody after a brief confrontation.

The assault occurred shortly before 10 a.m. local time, as congregants arrived for Kol Nidre services marking the start of the 25-hour fast of atonement, which began at sundown on October 1 and concludes at nightfall on October 2. Eyewitnesses described a white van accelerating into a group of pedestrians near the synagogue entrance on Sheepfoot Lane, followed by the driver emerging to stab one victim. Armed officers responded within minutes, neutralizing the threat and establishing a 100-meter cordon around the site.

The victims, both in their 60s and members of Manchester's longstanding Jewish community, were pronounced dead at the scene despite immediate medical intervention by the North West Ambulance Service. Their identities have not been released pending family notification, but community leaders identified them privately as lifelong residents active in local charitable efforts.

The suspect, named Jihad Al-Shamie, was arrested on suspicion of murder and terrorism offenses.Born in Syria and naturalized as a British citizen in 2012, Al-Shamie had no prior criminal record but was known to counter-terrorism watchlists for online radicalization concerns, according to sources close to the investigation. A manifesto posted to social media hours before the attack referenced antisemitic tropes and grievances tied to the Israel-Gaza conflict, prompting MI5 to lead the probe alongside local police.

Counter-Terrorism Policing North West's Assistant Chief Constable, Rebecca Christie, addressed reporters outside the synagogue: "This is being treated as a terrorist incident motivated by hostility toward the Jewish community. Our thoughts are with the families, and we urge the public to remain vigilant." No further threats have been identified, but security has been heightened at Jewish sites across the UK, including London's Golders Green and Leeds' Moor Allerton.

Manchester's Jewish population, estimated at 30,000—the second-largest in the UK after London—has faced a 300% surge in antisemitic incidents since October 2023, according to the Community Security Trust (CST). The Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation, an Orthodox shul established in 1928 serving some 500 families, exemplifies the area's vibrant yet vulnerable heritage, with roots tracing to 18th-century Lithuanian immigrants.

This attack evokes painful memories of prior UK incidents, including the 2019 Poway synagogue shooting in California—influenced by British far-right networks—and a 2021 foiled plot against a Cardiff synagogue. Yom Kippur's solemnity, focused on reflection and reconciliation, amplified the horror, with services inside the synagogue proceeding under lockdown as rabbis led prayers for the fallen.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the violence in a televised address, vowing "zero tolerance for hate" and allocating £5 million more to faith-based security grants."On this Day of Atonement, let us atone for our society's divisions by standing united against bigotry," he said. King Charles III expressed condolences via Buckingham Palace, while international leaders, including U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, offered support.

The Board of Deputies of British Jews described the scene as "heartbreaking," with Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis calling for a "return to humanity." Interfaith vigils are planned for Friday across Greater Manchester, home to 2.8 million residents and a mosaic of communities including 300,000 Muslims.

As forensic teams comb the site and the community mourns, Manchester's resilience shines through. "We will not let terror silence our prayers," said synagogue president David Cohen. Investigations continue, with a national threat level under review. Updates will follow as details emerge.