UK
Chief Rabbi’s ‘heart shattered’ by Manchester synagogue terror attack
‘This is the day we hoped we would never see, but which deep down, we knew would come,’ Sir Ephraim Mirvis said
October 2, 2025 21:18
‘This is the day we hoped we would never see, but which deep down, we knew would come,’ Sir Ephraim Mirvis said
October 2, 2025 21:18The Chief Rabbi, Sir Ephraim Mirvis, has emerged from his Yom Kippur fast and learnt the full details of what unfolded on “the day we hoped we would never see, but which deep down, we knew would come”.
In his first statement since the terror attack took place this morning at Manchester’s Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation, leaving two people dead and two seriously injured, the Chief Rabbi said: “Our hearts are shattered.
“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.”
Sir Ephraim continued: “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 is 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.”
He added: “I have spoken this evening to Rabbi Daniel Walker, the spiritual leader of the Heaton Park synagogue. His courageous leadership, together with the resilience of his congregation, are an inspiration to us all.
“May the victims’ memories be for a blessing and may the injured be granted a swift recovery.
“I pray that this tragedy strengthens our collective resolve to confront antisemitism, in all its guises, once and for all.”
The identities of the victims have not yet been disclosed, but the attacker, who was shot dead at the scene by armed police, has been named by counter-terror police tonight as Jihad Al-Shamie, a 35-year-old British citizen of Syrian descent.
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