Manchester synagogue latest: Police name terrorist attack suspect as 35-year-old Jihad Al-Shamie – UK Times

A day usually reserved for worship and celebration became the “darkest of moments” as neighbours struggled to come to terms with a “heartbreaking” and “terrible” attack on Britain’s Jewish community.

Two people have died and three have been left in a serious condition after Jihad Al-Shamie launched a car and stabbing attack at the Heaton Park Shul in Greater Manchester on Thursday morning. Police have since declared it a terrorist incident, adding Al-Shamie was shot dead by firearms officers at the scene.

Speaking to The Independent, neighbours said they were “shocked” and “heartbroken” for the loss of “innocent lives” in a well-respected community. But others added they were saddened but “not surprised” by the act of terror, saying global tensions had spilled onto the streets targeting one of Britain’s largest Jewish neighbourhoods on their holiest day.

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the “barbaric attack” on a British synagogue on Thursday was because “weakness in the face of terrorism only brings more terrorism”.

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

“As I warned at the UN: Weakness in the face of terrorism only brings more terrorism. Only strength and unity can defeat it.”

The Israeli foreign minister, Gideon Sa’ar, was more direct in his criticism of Kier Starmer government and accused the UK of failing to act against antisemitism.

“The truth must be told: blatant and rampant antisemitic and anti-Israeli incitement, as well as calls of support for terror, have recently become a widespread phenomenon in the streets of London, in cities across Britain and on its campuses,” Sa’ar said in a post on X on Thursday night.

Officers were called to the scene at 9.31am by a member of the public who said he had seen a car being driven towards people, and one man had been stabbed.

Police arrived shortly afterwards and declared “Plato”, the national code word used by police and emergency services when responding to a “marauding terror attack”, and a major incident at 9.37am.

Footage on social media appeared to show members of the public shouting to firearms officers that the suspect had a bomb strapped to him.

Police later confirmed the terrorist was wearing “a vest which had the appearance of an explosive device”.

Video posted on social media appeared to show officers pointing guns at someone lying on the ground outside the front of the synagogue.

The officers shout at onlookers to “get back” and “move on”.

The person on the ground starts to get up before there is the sound of a gunshot and they fall to the ground.

Another person was shown lying motionless on the ground outside the synagogue gates with blood near their head.