Britain pledges stronger action against antisemitism after deadly Manchester synagogue attack

Manchester, home to the UK’s largest Jewish community outside London, was shaken when an attacker targeted the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue on Yom Kippur, killing two men. The attack has heightened concerns over rising antisemitism amid tensions over Gaza.

The British government vowed Friday to intensify efforts to combat antisemitism following a deadly attack at a Manchester synagogue that claimed two lives on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.

Police identified the attacker as 35-year-old Jihad al-Shamie, a British man of Syrian descent, who drove into pedestrians and then began stabbing outside the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation. He was shot dead at the scene by armed officers. The victims were Adrian Daulby, 53, and Melvin Cravitz, 66.

Israel sharply criticized Britain, accusing it of allowing antisemitism to grow unchecked, particularly on campuses and in cities, while British Jewish leaders said fears of such an attack had long been present.

The British interior minister, Shabana Mahmood, emphasized that tensions in Gaza must not spill onto British streets. She called for pro-Palestinian protests planned in London this weekend to be canceled or postponed to avoid diverting police resources needed to protect vulnerable communities. Mahmood also described recent pro-Palestinian protests in Manchester as “un-British and dishonourable,” urging the public to show “humanity and some love” to the grieving community.

Antisemitism in Britain has surged since the October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel and the subsequent war in Gaza, according to the Community Security Trust, which protects Jewish organizations across the country.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government has also faced tensions with Israel over the UK’s stance on recognizing a Palestinian state, underscoring the delicate balance Britain faces between international and domestic pressures.