Manchester,โ UKโ – A synagogue in manchester was the target of an attack onโค Thursday, prompting a large-scale โขpolice response and leaving โคthe local Jewish community in shock. Authoritiesโข have launched an inquiry, classifying โthe incident as a potentialโข “marauding terrorist attack,” though it has not yet beenโข officially declared terrorism.
The attack occurred as the synagogue prepared for Yom Kippur observances, with servicesโข scheduled to begin at 9 am.The synagogueโ anticipates holdingโ multiple services โthroughout the holy day,including a special service for children.โฃ Manchester is home to approximately 30,000 Jews,representing the largest Jewish congregation in theโ UK outside of London.
Police “declared PLATO” โข- aโค codeword signifying a โขsuspected marauding terrorist attack,defined as an incident where โattackers โคmove rapidly to inflict maximum casualties. A Casualty Bureau has been established online for concerned individuals to inquire about family and friends who may have been present during the attack: https://mipp.police.uk/operation/NATIONAL25Y19-PO1. Individualsโ who were at the scene and are nowโข safeโค are also encouragedโ toโ submit reports through the portal.
The incident comes โคamid a documented riseโ in anti-Semitic incidents in the UK. The Community Security โTrust (CST) reported 3,528 instances โคof anti-Semitism in 2024, the second-highest annual total recorded, includingโ 19 instances of synagogue damage. This followed a record high of 4,296 incidents in 2023.
As the start of the Israel-Gaza conflict,โข beginning with the Hamas-led โattack on October 7, 2023, there has been a global increase in both anti-Semitic and Islamophobic incidents, according to reports.
“There’s everyone here,” said 41-year-old Sam Martin, a local โresident. “Muslims, Jews, everyone. I’ve known nothing but love and kindness from our Jewish โขcommunity. I’m just shocked this โขcould happen.”