Manchester: Attack on Jewish Synagogue Raises Security Alert in Britain
October 4, 202556 ViewsRead Time: 2 minutes
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Britain has declared a state of maximum alert following a bloody attack targeting a Jewish synagogue in Manchester, northwestern England, which resulted in the deaths of two people and injuries to three others, amidst widespread panic in the country.
The attack occurred on Thursday, coinciding with the Jewish Day of Atonement "Yom Kippur," where a car ran over a group of worshippers in front of the synagogue, then the attacker stabbed a security guard, before police forces responded by shooting him dead on the spot.
The police declared the incident a terrorist act.
The attacker, named Jihad Al-Shami, a British national of Syrian descent, was wearing an explosive vest that later turned out to be non-functional.
Greater Manchester Police Chief Stephen Watson confirmed that Al-Shami was not armed, and that one of the victims was likely shot during the police response to the attack, in a tragic and unintended incident.
He explained that one of the deceased and one of the injured sustained injuries from gunfire from security forces, while the conditions of two other injured individuals are critical.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood confirmed that Britain is in a "state of maximum alert" with additional police forces deployed around Jewish places of worship to ensure citizens' safety. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Keir Starmer visited the attack site and promised to enhance security measures immediately.
In a related context, police arrested three suspects, two men in their thirties and a woman in her sixties, on suspicion of being linked to the attack or terrorist activities.
This attack is the worst in Europe since the Hamas attack on Israeli settlements on October 7, 2023, highlighting the rising security tensions in the region and Europe.
Britain continues to bolster its security measures while experiencing increasing public sorrow and anger, amidst calls for solidarity with the Jewish community and protection of places of worship from any future threats.
