UK Police Identify Suspect in Manchester Synagogue Attack
Manchester, UK - October 2, 2025 – UK police have identified a suspect following a disturbing attack on a synagogue in Crumpsall, north Manchester, earlier today, coinciding with Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. While details remain limited, authorities are treating the incident as a potential act of terrorism specifically targeting the Jewish community.
Following the attack, a significant police presence descended on the area, with officers in combat fatigues and carrying machine guns securing the scene. Dozens of police vehicles, alongside fire and ambulance crews, responded, and a police helicopter hovered overhead. A large number of worshippers who were inside the synagogue at the time were initially held inside while the area was made safe.
Labor Party leader Keir Starmer condemned the attack, stating, “Earlier today, on Yom Kippur, the holiest day for the jewish community, a vile individual committed a terrorist attack that attacked Jews because they are Jews, and attacked Britain because of our values.” He pledged too do “everything in [his] power” to protect the Jewish community and defeat rising anti-Semitism. Earlier, Starmer posted on X (formerly Twitter): “I’m appalled by the attack at a synagogue in Crumpsall… The fact that this has taken place on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, makes it all the more horrific.”
King Charles expressed being “deeply shocked” and “saddened” by the incident.
The attack has sparked widespread concern and condemnation. Rabbi Jonathan Romain, head of the Rabbinic Court of Great Britain, warned the incident could raise fears of political violence escalating into religious hatred. The Muslim Council of Britain unequivocally condemned the violence,emphasizing the added distress caused by the timing on Yom Kippur. The Israeli embassy in London also condemned the attack as “abhorrent and deeply distressing” in a social media post.
London’s Metropolitan police have deployed additional officers around synagogues and in areas with significant Jewish populations as a precautionary measure, stating there is currently no indication of an increased threat to the capital.
Dave Rich, of the Community Security Trust (CST), a charity monitoring anti-Semitism in the UK, explained the meaning of the day, noting Yom Kippur is a day of solemnity and fasting akin to Christmas for Christians.
[Image of members of the community near the synagogue in Crumpsall, north Manchester, on October 2, 2025 [Paul Currie/AFP] included in original article]
