Dozens of mourners braved pouring rain in Manchester on October 3, 2025, gathering outside the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue to honor victims of a deadly terror attack that had rocked the city just a day earlier. The vigil, intended as a moment of unity and remembrance, instead became a flashpoint for anger and protest as Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy was heckled and booed by members of the crowd who accused the government of failing to stem the tide of antisemitism in the United Kingdom. The emotional outpouring underscored the deep wounds left by the attack and the broader anxieties gripping the nation’s Jewish community.
The violence unfolded during Yom Kippur, the holiest day on the Jewish calendar. At approximately midday on October 2, Jihad al-Shamie, a 35-year-old British citizen of Syrian descent, rammed his car into the synagogue before attempting to stab worshippers with a knife. According to the Manchester Evening News, the attacker shouted, “This is what you get for killing our children,” as he banged his knife against the synagogue’s glass doors. His rampage was ultimately halted by armed police, who shot and killed him at the scene. Tragically, two men lost their lives in the chaos: Melvin Cravitz, a security guard hailed as a hero for confronting the attacker, and Adrian Daulby, who was inadvertently shot by police while helping to barricade the doors. Four others were injured, three of them seriously.
The attack sent shockwaves through Manchester’s diverse communities. Neighbors expressed disbelief that al-Shamie, who had lived in the area for two decades and become more religious after the Covid pandemic, could perpetrate such violence. “I am just so shocked that he was living under our noses. It’s shocking that he was so close and no one knew anything about it, until he did it. It’s wrong. It’s evil. Pure evil. We don’t need terrorism in this world,” said Simon Barlass, a former serviceman, to the Manchester Evening News.
Police investigations quickly expanded. By the following day, a home in Bolton was raided, and a Muslim man and his wife, believed to be a convert to Islam, were arrested. This brought the total number of people in custody on suspicion of terrorism-related offenses to six, according to the BBC. Authorities indicated that al-Shamie may have been influenced by extreme Islamist ideology. Greater Manchester Police Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson assured the community, “I can pledge to you that GMP are with you as one in continuing relentlessly, professionally, ruthlessly, all of those who would harm our Jewish community and other communities across Greater Manchester where hate is the originator of their intent.”
In the aftermath, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) launched an inquiry into the armed response, specifically examining whether police actions contributed to Daulby’s death. The officers involved are being treated as witnesses, and the investigation is ongoing. Lord Carlile, a former independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, told Times Radio, “The police acted extremely promptly and they were very efficient, aided by security guards at the synagogue and in my view it is of course tragic that somebody died in those circumstances.”
The attack and its fallout have reignited fierce debate over the rise of antisemitism and the government’s response. At the Manchester vigil, Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy’s speech was repeatedly interrupted by shouts of “Shame on you!” and accusations that he and the government had enabled such violence by not acting decisively against weekly anti-Israel protests. “You enabled it every Saturday,” one protester shouted, referencing demonstrations in London and other cities since October 2023. Lammy called on organizers to suspend the planned weekend rally, urging, “For those that are considering marching over the weekend, I ask them to reflect with all human dignity, grace and understanding and to stop and to stand back.”
Lammy later acknowledged the pain and anger at the vigil, posting on social media, “I heard the pain, anger and grief at today’s vigil after the horrific terrorist attack. We stand with the Jewish community in grief and solidarity against antisemitism. We are surging security at synagogues and supporting victims. Hate must never and will never divide us.” Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer echoed these sentiments, describing the attack as “an attack on us all” in The Jewish Chronicle and announcing increased police presence at places of worship, transport hubs, and schools. “Antisemitism is rising. Every week, every day, Jewish schools and synagogues rely on round the clock security — often from dedicated volunteers — because they know the threat of antisemitic hatred is real and dangerous,” he wrote.
Jewish and Muslim faith leaders responded with a rare show of unity, issuing a joint statement condemning antisemitism and all forms of hatred. “We must — and will — resist the forces that seek to divide us. In the face of fear and uncertainty, we choose unity,” the co-chairs of the Optimistic Alliance declared. Yet, the broader climate remains fraught. According to the Community Security Trust, antisemitic incidents have surged since the October 2023 Hamas attacks on Israel, with at least 200 incidents recorded every month since then. The Institute for Jewish Policy Research found that 35 percent of Jews in Britain felt unsafe in 2025, up from just 9 percent two years earlier.
The attack also reverberated through the city’s football community. Manchester United and Manchester City announced they would wear black armbands and hold a minute’s silence before their matches on October 4 and 5, respectively, in tribute to the victims. United manager Ruben Amorim told The Times, “It’s a crazy world that we are living in at the moment, a lot of these things are happening. Of course, our sympathy is for the victims and we will pay tribute tomorrow.”
The families of the victims paid heartfelt tributes. Melvin Cravitz’s loved ones described him as “so kind, caring and always wanted to chat and get to know people. He was devoted to his wife, family and loved his food. He will be sorely missed by his wife, family, friends and community.” Adrian Daulby’s family called him a “hero” who “tragically lost his life in the act of courage to save others.” Sir Grant Shapps, former defence secretary, recounted his father-in-law’s harrowing experience inside the synagogue, saying, “Hearing my father-in-law’s chilling first-hand account brings home the horror, as we mourn the lost, pray for the injured, and stand unshaken against hate.”
Meanwhile, the attack has intensified scrutiny of ongoing pro-Palestinian protests. The Metropolitan Police and government officials urged groups to cancel demonstrations planned for October 4, warning they could inflame community tensions. However, organizers insisted on proceeding, stating, “We are causing no obstruction. We are committing no act of violence. We are making no noise. We are breaching no peace. We are peacefully protesting against UK complicity in genocide.” Prime Minister Starmer urged protesters to “recognise and respect the grief of British Jews,” while Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood called the protests “disgraceful” and “un-British.”
As Manchester and the nation grapple with the aftermath, the words of Rabbi Daniel Walker offered a measure of resilience: “That murderer tried to shut down the … building, but he didn’t shut down our prayers. We will continue over shabbat. He will not stop us from connecting with our father in heaven.” The tragedy has left a deep scar, but it has also galvanized calls for solidarity, vigilance, and a renewed commitment to confronting hate in all its forms.
