❓WHAT HAPPENED: Police have released the name of the suspect in this morning’s terror attack on Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue in Manchester, England.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The suspect named is Jihad al-Shamie, a 35-year-old initially described as a “British citizen of Syrian descent.” Police later confirmed he was an immigrant who was granted British citizenship in 2006. He was shot dead in the attack, and three others have been arrested.
📍WHEN & WHERE: The attack took place on Yom Kippur on October 2, 2025, in Manchester, England.
💬KEY QUOTE: “They are being held on suspicion of commission, preparation and instigation of acts of terrorism.” – Counter Terrorism Police
🎯IMPACT: The attack has led to heightened security concerns, particularly for the Jewish community in Britain.
Counter Terrorism Police have identified the suspect in the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue attack in Manchester, England, as Jihad al Shamie, a 35-year-old initially described as a “British citizen of Syrian descent.” Police later confirmed he was an immigrant who was granted British citizenship in 2006. While he was shot dead by police during the attack, three others, including two men in their thirties and a woman in her sixties, have been arrested.
The attack resulted in the deaths of two Jewish men, while three others remain hospitalized with serious injuries. The Authorities are currently working to formally identify the deceased and formally confirm the motivations behind the attack—likely radical Islamic terrorism. The situation has prompted Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s government to announce increased security for synagogues.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’arhas said he is “appalled by the murderous attack near the Heaton Park Synagogue in Manchester on the morning of the holiest day for the Jewish people: Yom Kippur,” adding: “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.”
“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,” he continued.
“We expect more than words from the Starmer government. We expect and demand a change of course, effective action, and enforcement against the rampant antisemitic and anti-Israeli incitement in Britain.”
Police say they are “working to formally identify those who have tragically been killed and provide support to their loved ones, in addition to the injured and the wider community.”
This story is developing…
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