Manchester attack: two killed and three injured after terrorist drives into grounds of synagogue and stabs worshippers

October 2, 2025

Manchester attack: two killed and three injured after terrorist drives into grounds of synagogue and stabs worshippers

Police say Jihad Al-Shamie, a British citizen of Syrian descent, was behind car and knife attack that left three people seriously injured

Police have shot dead a terrorist who killed two people and seriously injured three others in an attack at a synagogue in Manchester on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.

Using a car to ram into the grounds of the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue in Crumpsall, the man then stabbed worshippers in a six-minute rampage that only ended when armed officers shot at him twice, fearing he also had an explosive device tied to his chest. It was later found to be a fake.

Police named the attacker on Thursday night as Jihad Al-Shamie, 35, a British citizen of Syrian descent. Greater Manchester police revealed that three other people – two men in their 30s and a woman in her 60s – had been arrested “on suspicion of commission, preparation and instigation of acts of terrorism”.

It is understood the attacker entered the UK as a young child and was granted British citizenship in 2006.

The attack drew widespread condemnation from across the political spectrum, with Keir Starmer calling the knife attacker a “vile individual” who “attacked Jews because they are Jews, and attacked Britain because of our values”. Political rivals Kemi Badenoch and Nigel Farage were among those joining him in showing support for the Jewish community.

It happened just days before the second anniversary of the 7 October attacks by Hamas in Israel. Police said there would be heightened security at synagogues and Jewish community centres in coming days. Research published today showed that more than a third (35%) of British Jews said they felt unsafe in the UK, compared with just 9% before the 7 October attacks.

The Board of Deputies and the Jewish Leadership Council said in a statement on Thursday evening that the attack was “sadly something we feared was coming”.

They added: “We call on all those in positions of power and influence to take the required action to combat hatred against Jewish people, and will be working with the authorities on a series of additional measures to protect our community over the coming days.”

Starmer flew back to the UK early from a gathering of European leaders in Denmark to chair an emergency Cobra meeting after the incident before speaking to the nation from Downing Street..

Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement: “Israel grieves with the Jewish community in the UK after the barbaric terror attack in Manchester.

“Our hearts are with the families of the murdered, and we pray for the swift recovery of the wounded.”