Sir Keir Starmer says Britain must defeat a rising wave of antisemitism and promises Jewish people he will ensure the country is a place “where you and your family are safe, secure and belong”.
Thursday 2 October 2025 21:09, UK
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Three people have been arrested after an attacker killed two men at a Manchester synagogue in an atrocity Jewish leaders say they “knew would come”.
The attacker drove a car at people at the gates of Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue and then launched a knife attack.
He was stopped from getting inside by security staff and members of the congregation – and police shot him dead minutes later fearing he was wearing a suicide device.
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Police believe Jihad al Shamie, a 35-year-old British citizen of Syrian descent, is responsible for the murders.
Two men in their 30s and a woman in her 60s have been arrested on suspicion of terror offences.
Officers were still at two locations linked to the arrests on Thursday night; White House Avenue, Crumpsall, and Langley Crescent, Prestwich.
The attack happened on the Jewish holy day of Yom Kippur and police patrols are now being stepped up near synagogues around the country.
“The second he got out of the car, he started stabbing anyone near him,” said witness Chava Lewin.
“He went for the security guard and tried to break into the synagogue.”
Police said it appeared al Shamie hadn’t been flagged up via the Prevent anti-terror and deradicalisation programme.
Sky News understands he entered the UK as a very young child and was granted British citizenship in 2006 as a minor.
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The prime minister condemned the “horrific incident” and apologised to Jewish people “on behalf of the nation”.
The first calls were received at 9.31am and minutes later “Plato” was declared, the code-word used by emergency services for a “marauding terror attack”.
‘He’s trying to press a button’
Video showed police pointing guns at the attacker as another person lies bloodied and motionless near the synagogue’s gates.
“He’s trying to press a button,” says the man filming. “Shoot him!”
As the attacker tries to get to his feet, a single shot is heard. Police said he was killed seven minutes after the first emergency call.
Bomb disposal experts later probed the body and a SAS helicopter flew nearby – but the object worn by the attacker was judged to be “not viable”.
Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson said there were a lot of people inside the synagogue when the attacker struck.
“Thanks to the immediate bravery of security staff and the worshippers inside, as well as the fast response of the police, the attacker was prevented from gaining access,” he said.
Three men were also injured in the attack are in a serious condition in hospital: one with a stab wound, the second after being hit by the car, and the third with an injury possibly “sustained as officers stopped the attacker”.
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Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who returned early from a meeting in Denmark, said Britain must defeat rising anti-Jewish hate.
“I express my solidarity, but also my sadness that you still have to live with these fears,” said Sir Keir.
“Nobody should have to do that. Nobody.
“And so I promise you that I will do everything in my power to guarantee you the security that you deserve, starting with a more visible police presence, protecting your community.”
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Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood visited the area and said the government would do “whatever is required to keep our Jewish community safe”.
Members of the Royal Family also reacted to the attack.
The King said he and the Queen were “deeply shocked and saddened”.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by this appalling incident and we greatly appreciate the swift actions of the emergency services,” said the monarch.
The Prince and Princess of Wales said their thoughts were “with the victims and the families”.
‘No place for Jews in Britain anymore’
Britain’s chief rabbi, Sir Ephraim Mirvis, posted on X: “Our hearts are shattered”.
He said many Jews would only be learning of the attack on Thursday evening after Yom Kippur ended.
“This is the day we hoped we would never see, but which deep down, we knew would come,” he said.
“For so long we have witnessed an unrelenting wave of Jew hatred on our streets, on campuses, on social media and elsewhere – this is the tragic result.”
The attack happened on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish year.
It is a solemn day of observance and atonement, and marks the peak of the High Holidays.
It comes after Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah, with both occasions bookmarking the Ten Days of Repentance.
Jews observe Yom Kippur by prayer and fasting from sunset the day before to the sunset of the day itself.
No work is permitted, and for some, the day is spent at a synagogue.
The occasion falls on the 10th day of Tishrei – a Hebrew month between late September and early October.
A Jewish man outside the synagogue said the attack showed there was “no place for Jews in Britain anymore. It’s over”.
The Community Security Trust (CST), which monitors antisemitism in the UK, called it an “appalling attack”.
Another worshipper told Sky News the attack was a “culmination of something the Jewish community has been fearing for two years”.
Raphi Bloom, a director at a local Jewish charity, said he was walking there when he received a call from a friend warning him not to go.
Mr Bloom told Sky’s Jayne Secker not enough had been done to tackle “the wave of hatred targeting the Jewish community in the UK” since the Gaza War began.
“We’ve been faced with a tsunami of Jew hatred since,” he said.
“Ultimately, almost every Jew in this country realised that this day would come. I never thought it would happen at my synagogue, to my friends, to my rabbi, in my city.”
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Israel’s foreign minister echoed that sentiment and said Jews were “suffering from a horrific wave of antisemitism”.
“The authorities in Britain have failed to take the necessary action to curb this toxic wave of antisemitism and have effectively allowed it to persist,” said Gideon Sa’ar on X.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his country was grieving with Britain’s Jewish community after the “barbaric terror attack”.
“Weakness in the face of terrorism only brings more terrorism. Only strength and unity can defeat it,” added Israel’s leader.
