UK
Heaton Park attack victim ‘no longer feels safe in this country’
A fundraiser for another victim, Andrew Franks, has also passed £65,000
October 9, 2025 14:57
A fundraiser for another victim, Andrew Franks, has also passed £65,000
October 9, 2025 14:57The ex-wife of one of the three injured victims of last Thursday’s Heaton Park Synagogue terror attack has said he “no longer feels safe in this country”.
Yoni Finlay was accidentally shot by officers from Greater Manchester Police (GMP) as they tried to eliminate Jihad al-Shamie, the terrorist who launched a knife assault on worshippers.
The attack left two people dead, one of whom was killed by a stray police bullet.
Finlay’s ex-wife, Naomi, told Sky News: "He no longer feels safe in this country and is beginning to question his future here.
"He is upset. When I went to see him in hospital, I spoke to him about some of the antisemitism we have faced personally, some of the things I hadn't discussed with him before - and he didn't know and he was really, really upset for me and the children that this is what we have been through."
Naomi said that the pair’s children have been bringing chocolate bars and other treats to the hospital to give to their father in an effort to cheer him up.
She said of their 16-year-old son: "His biggest fear is anyone finding out he is Jewish. He will do anything he can to hide his Jewish identity. The kippah comes off his head the second he leaves the synagogue.
"He is scared to walk down the street where there are loads of Jewish people... He keeps away from Jewish things because he is so scared of people thinking he is Jewish."
Meanwhile, a fundraiser set up for one of the other injured victims, Andrew Franks, has raised £67,000 in three days.
Franks, who is currently recovering in hospital was volunteering for CST and helped to barricade the doors. He suffered multiple injuries and the GoFundMe campaign, set up by Jonathan Patoff, has been set up to provide financial support as he recovers.
The caption under the fundraiser reads: "I'm looking to help Andrew Franks who was seriously injured in the horrific attack that occurred on Yom Kippur at Heaton Park Synagogue where two people sadly and tragically lost their lives.
"Andrew, whilst acting as a volunteer providing security at the shul, was viciously attacked by the terrorist and received serious head, neck and face injuries as well as a number of broken bones."
It continues: "Andrew, who sadly lost his wife Rama in March of this year to cancer, leaving him as the sole parent of Tamara, who recently turned 16, is a quiet and unassuming good man who behaved heroically in defending the congregants of the Heaton Park Synagogue, giving others time to lock the door and save lives.
"The physical and mental scars of his selfless heroism will take time to heal; I am looking to raise funds to help him and his daughter financially during this time.
"Any donation will be gratefully received."
The target is £70,000 and, in just three days, the fundraiser is only £3,000 off.
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