A horrific terrorist attack unfolded on Thursday, October 2, 2025, at the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in Crumpsall, Manchester, claiming the lives of two Jewish worshippers and leaving four others seriously injured. The assault, which occurred on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, involved a car being driven into a crowd outside the synagogue, followed by a knife attack by the assailant.

The attacker, identified as 35-year-old Jihad Al-Shamie, a British citizen of Syrian descent, launched his rampage at approximately 9:31 am. Witnesses described a black Kia hatchback hurtling towards crowds and into the synagogue gates, followed by Al-Shamie emerging armed with a knife and what appeared to be an explosive belt. He began stabbing people outside the synagogue, including a security guard who bravely put himself in harm's way. Police responded rapidly, shooting Al-Shamie dead within seven minutes of the initial 999 call. Authorities later confirmed that the vest he was wearing, initially feared to be a viable explosive device, was not. Two people, Adrian Daulby, 53, and Melvin Cravitz, 66, both from Crumpsall, were tragically killed in the attack. Three other injured individuals remain in serious condition in hospital.

Heroic actions by individuals prevented a potentially greater tragedy. Rabbi Daniel Walker, leading services inside the packed synagogue, was hailed as a hero for calmly shutting and barricading the doors, preventing the attacker from gaining entry. Worshipper Rob Kanter, 45, recounted that despite the terrifying lockdown, those inside remained "very calm and dignified." Another worshipper, Yoni Finlay, was injured, possibly by a stray police bullet or shrapnel, while bravely helping to barricade the synagogue entrance from the inside. Following the incident, Rabbi Walker was seen outside, his traditional white kittel seemingly covered in blood, providing pastoral support to distressed congregants. Worshippers even continued part of their Yom Kippur service at a police relief centre, embodying resilience amidst grief.

The attack sent shockwaves through the Jewish community and sparked widespread condemnation and calls for action. Emma Barnett, a BBC Radio 4 presenter who worshipped at the Heaton Park Synagogue as a child, expressed profound grief and rage, highlighting the tragic reality of Jews being targeted and locked inside synagogues in modern Britain. Due to the sacred nature of Yom Kippur, many worshippers were initially unaware of the unfolding terror, as religious observances forbid the use of phones and other devices, with some community members running door-to-door to warn others away from the synagogue.

Political figures and Jewish leaders reacted strongly to the atrocity. Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the "vile" attack, stating it targeted "Jews because they are Jews." He returned early from a summit to chair an emergency Cobra meeting and pledged increased protection for Jewish sites, a more visible police presence, and vowed to do "everything in my power" to guarantee the community's security. He visited a London synagogue in solidarity and thanked emergency services for preventing an even greater tragedy. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham also condemned the attack and called for unity and solidarity with the Jewish community.

However, the response also included strong criticism. Gideon Falter, Chief Executive of Campaign Against Antisemitism, issued a damning statement, asserting that the blood of British Jews was on the hands of "virtue-signalling politicians," police chiefs, universities, and the BBC. He accused them of enabling extremism and failing to tackle "mobs on our streets," describing the attack as an "inevitable result" of radicalisation. Israeli foreign minister Gideon Sa’ar and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Sir Keir Starmer of failing to protect British Jews and tackle "rampant anti-Semitic incitement," with Netanyahu linking the attack to Starmer’s controversial decision to recognise a Palestinian state. Tory MP Louie French urged ministers to halt pro-Palestine marches, which many Jews find intimidating, though such demonstrations proceeded in Manchester and London following the attack.

The investigation into the attack is ongoing. Al-Shamie, despite being a British citizen of Syrian descent who entered the UK as a child and gained citizenship in 2006, had no previous Prevent referrals and was not under security service investigation. Police have arrested two men in their 30s and a woman in her 60s on suspicion of commission, preparation, and instigation of acts of terrorism. To reassure the community, Greater Manchester Police have deployed additional officers to provide a high-visibility presence in Jewish communities and around synagogues in North Manchester, Bury, and Salford, with increased visits to places of worship planned for the weekend.