Six Arrested in Manchester Synagogue Attack Probe as UK Jewish Community Mourns
Six Arrested in Manchester Synagogue Attack Probe as UK Jewish Community Mourns
The UK is grappling with the aftermath of a deadly synagogue attack in Manchester, where police are currently questioning six individuals arrested on suspicion of terror offenses. The arrests follow a horrific incident on Thursday at the Heaton Park Congregation Synagogue that left two men dead and deeply shocked Britain’s Jewish community.
Authorities confirm that Jihad Al-Shamie, 35, was shot dead by police on Thursday after he rammed a car into pedestrians outside the synagogue, attacked them with a knife, and attempted to force entry into the building. The attack, which occurred on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish year, claimed the lives of congregants Melvin Cravitz, 66, and Adrian Daulby, 53. Police stated Daulby was tragically killed by an armed officer’s accidental shot while he and others bravely barricaded the synagogue to prevent Al-Shamie from entering. Three other men remain hospitalized with serious injuries.
Detectives are investigating whether Al-Shamie, a British citizen of Syrian origin residing in Manchester, acted alone and if he was influenced by “extreme Islamist ideology.” It was revealed that Al-Shamie, found with a fake explosives belt, was out on bail for an alleged rape at the time of the attack, though he had not been charged.
The attack has ignited widespread grief and intensified the contentious debate in Britain surrounding the distinction between criticism of Israel and antisemitism. The Community Security Trust reports a sharp increase in antisemitic incidents in the U.K. since the Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023 and the subsequent conflict in Gaza.
While pro-Palestinian demonstrations in the UK have largely been peaceful, some politicians and religious leaders argue that certain chants, like “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” contribute to the spread of anti-Jewish hatred. Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis, head of Orthodox Judaism in Britain, attributed the attack to an “unrelenting wave of Jew hatred” both online and on the streets.
Amidst the heightened tensions, police in London urged organizers to cancel a planned protest for Saturday opposing the banning of Palestine Action, which the government has labeled a terrorist organization. Prime Minister Keir Starmer echoed calls for the demonstration to be postponed, urging organizers to “recognize and respect the grief of British Jews this week.” However, the group Defend Our Juries proceeded with the protest, stating their respect for the victims but asserting their right to advocate for those affected by the “ongoing, real-time genocide in Gaza.” Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy faced boos and shouts of “Shame on you” at a Manchester vigil for the victims on Friday, following the UK’s recent recognition of a Palestinian state—a move some claim has emboldened antisemitism, though the government denies this.
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