Manchester: Greater Manchester Police have named the man responsible for Thursday’s deadly attack at the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue as 35-year-old Jihad Al-Shamie, a British national of Syrian origin. The assault, declared a terrorist incident, left two people dead and three others injured before the attacker was shot dead by armed officers.
According to police, Al-Shamie drove a car into worshippers gathered outside the synagogue on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, and then attacked bystanders with a knife. Synagogue security prevented him from entering the building, likely averting further casualties. Eyewitnesses reported that Rabbi Daniel Walker and worshippers quickly barricaded the doors to keep congregants safe.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who returned to London from an EU summit following the attack, condemned the incident as a terrorist assault motivated by antisemitism. He announced enhanced police presence at synagogues across the country. London Mayor Sadiq Khan also pledged stepped-up security in the capital. Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis described the violence as the outcome of growing Jew hatred on Britain’s streets and online spaces.
Three suspects, including two men in their 30s and a woman in her 60s, were arrested on suspicion of terrorism-related offences. Police later confirmed that a device worn by Al-Shamie was not a viable explosive.
Community leaders, including Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, condemned the attack and expressed solidarity with Jewish residents. Security staff and police officers were praised for their swift action, which stopped the attacker from entering the synagogue and prevented a larger tragedy.
