Christians across the United Kingdom are lifting prayers for the Jewish community following a deadly terror attack on Heaton Park Synagogue in Manchester on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. Authorities report that two people were killed and three others seriously injured after a man drove a vehicle into pedestrians and carried out a stabbing on Thursday morning.
The suspect, 35-year-old Jihad Al-Shamie, a naturalized British citizen of Syrian descent, was shot dead by police. Greater Manchester Police stated: “Police were called to the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue, on Middleton Road, Crumpsall, at 9.31 a.m. GMT by a member of the public, stating he had witnessed a car being driven towards members of the public and one man had been stabbed.” The police confirmed: “Shots were fired by Greater Manchester Police firearms officers at 9.38 a.m. One man has been shot, believed to be the offender.”
Church leaders responded swiftly. Bishop of Manchester David Walker said, “My thoughts and prayers are with all those affected, the victims, their families and the wider Jewish community, especially on this sacred day of Yom Kippur.”
