Terror alert: copycat attacks feared after synagogue massacre on holiest Jewish day

Counterterrorism police and security services were placed on heightened alert last night amid fears of potential copycat attacks after a suspected Islamist terrorist slaughtered two Jewish men at a synagogue on the holiest day of the Hebrew calendar.

Police named the killer as Jihad al-Shamie, 35, a British citizen of Syrian descent. His records do not show that he was ever referred to the government's counterterrorism scheme, Prevent.

The Prime Minister warned that antisemitic hatred was "rising once again" as police were deployed to protect Jewish sites of worship across the country after the attack in Manchester, which took place on Yom Kippur, the Jewish day of atonement. The news comes as pro-Gaza mob clashes with police 'I don't give a f--- about the Jewish community'.

Shamie, wearing a belt resembling an explosive device, was shot dead outside the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue in Crumpsall, having driven his car into members of the public before attacking people with a knife. He was fatally shot within seven minutes of the first report to the police.

Attacker was not on security services radar before deadly rampage

The Times reported that Shamie was not under active investigation by the security services. Initial inquiries indicate that he was not known to them.

Two men in their thirties and a woman in her sixties were arrested in connection with the attack. Witnesses described seeing the men being led from a property near the synagogue.

Three victims remain in hospital as details of heroism emerge

Three men remained in hospital on Thursday night. One had been stabbed, another had been struck by Shamie's car and the third had an injury that police said "may have been sustained as officers stopped the attacker". It was reported by the Daily Mail that a father of three was having surgery after being injured while helping to barricade the synagogue door. It is not clear whether he was accidentally shot or struck by shrapnel and flying glass from the impact of the bullet on the door.

The attacker was prevented from entering the synagogue only thanks to the "immediate bravery" of worshippers and security staff, Sir Stephen Watson, the Greater Manchester police chief, said. The congregation barricaded themselves inside after the man managed to get through the gate.

Chief Rabbi says attack is tragic result of unrelenting Jew hatred

Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis said that the terrorist attack was the "tragic result" of an "unrelenting wave of Jew hatred on our streets, campuses, on social media and elsewhere".

"Our hearts are shattered," he said on X. "Emerging from the holy fast of Yom Kippur, British Jews are now grasping the full extent of today's terror attack at the Heaton Park Synagogue in Manchester. This is the day we hoped we would never see, but which deep down, we knew would come."

"For so long we have witnessed an unrelenting wave of Jew hatred on our streets, on campuses, on social media and elsewhere - this is the tragic result. This not only an assault on the Jewish community, but an attack on the very foundations of humanity and the values of compassion, dignity and respect which we all share."

Former minister's family in frantic search after father-in-law caught in attack

Sir Grant Shapps, the former defence secretary, said his family had been frantically trying to reach his father-in-law, Michael Goldstone, who had been at the synagogue. It was not until they saw footage of him leaving the building on Sky News that the family knew he was safe.

Goldstone, Shapps said, had come "face to face" with the terrorist "holding the inside of the door" as he tried to break his way in.

Sir Keir Starmer, who rushed back from talks in Copenhagen to chair an emergency Cobra meeting, promised to "do everything to keep our Jewish community safe". Condemning a "terrorist attack that attacked Jews because they are Jews", he described the attacker as a "vile individual" and paid tribute to the police and security guards who had "prevented an even greater tragedy".

The Home Office said that Shamie had entered the UK as a very young child and was granted British citizenship in 2006 as a minor.

Netanyahu says Israel grieves with UK Jewish community after barbaric attack

Binyamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, said his country "grieves with the Jewish community in the UK" after the "barbaric" attack, adding: "Our hearts are with the families of the murdered, and we pray for the swift recovery of the wounded."

Gideon Sa'ar, the Israeli foreign minister, accused the Labour government of failing to curb "rampant antisemitic and anti-Israeli incitement in Britain".

Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative leader, said Jewish people faced a "climate of fear and aggression". She blamed a disproportionate focus on Israel's war in Gaza for an increase in antisemitic attacks and urged people to "dial down the rhetoric".

Pro-Palestinian march sparks anger as scuffles erupt in Manchester

A pro-Palestinian march was allowed to go ahead in the centre of Manchester yesterday evening. Scuffles broke out, and some said it should not have been allowed. There were also clashes between police and demonstrators at a large pro-Palestinian protest in the Whitehall area of London, where several arrests were made. Forty people were arrested, six for alleged assaults on police officers.

Synagogue packed with worshippers mourning deceased relatives during attack

The synagogue was full at the time of the attack with people who had lost their parents, witnesses said. The Yizkor prayer is traditionally recited on Yom Kippur to commemorate deceased relatives.

Worshippers were led to safety by Daniel Walker, the rabbi. His wife, Esther Walker, had heard nothing from her husband since he left their house to walk a few minutes to his synagogue at about 9am.