4 injured, suspect shot in car ramming and stabbing incident outside U.K. Synagogue on the holiest day on the Jewish calendar

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Terror Strikes on Yom Kippur: Car Ramming and Stabbing Attack Outside Manchester Synagogue Leaves Two Dead, Four Injured

On the morning of October 2, 2025, a horrifying act of violence unfolded outside the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in Crumpsall, Manchester, England.

As worshippers gathered to observe Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, a man launched a brutal attack involving both a vehicle ramming and stabbing spree.

The incident began around 9:30 a.m. local time when the assailant, later identified as Jihad Al-Shamie, a 35-year-old British citizen of Syrian descent, drove his car directly into pedestrians assembled outside the synagogue.

Following the collision, he exited the vehicle and began stabbing individuals in the crowd.

The attack resulted in the deaths of two Jewish worshippers, Adrian Daulby, 53, and Melvin Cravitz, 66, both residents of Crumpsall. Four others sustained serious injuries from both the vehicle impact and knife wounds.

Emergency services, including armed police units, responded swiftly. Within minutes, officers confronted and fatally shot the suspect. Initially, authorities hesitated to confirm his death due to the presence of a vest that appeared to contain explosives. Bomb disposal experts later determined the device was non-viable.

The Metropolitan Police declared the incident a terrorist attack, and counterterrorism units took over the investigation from Greater Manchester Police. In addition to the deceased suspect, three individuals, two men in their 30s and a woman in her 60s, were arrested on suspicion of terrorism-related offenses. 

The motive remains under investigation, though the timing and location suggest a targeted assault on the Jewish community.

The attack has sent shockwaves across the United Kingdom and beyond. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who was attending a summit in Copenhagen at the time, immediately returned to the U.K. and convened an emergency COBRA meeting. He condemned the “vile” act and pledged increased police presence at synagogues nationwide to reassure and protect Jewish citizens. London Mayor Sadiq Khan echoed these sentiments, emphasizing heightened patrols in Jewish neighborhoods.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed solidarity with the U.K.’s Jewish community, stating that “Israel grieves with the families of the murdered” and reaffirming his stance that “only strength and unity can defeat terrorism.” King Charles III and Queen Camilla also issued a statement expressing deep sorrow and gratitude for the swift actions of emergency responders.

The incident has reignited concerns about rising antisemitism in the U.K., which has seen a dramatic surge in hate crimes following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel and the subsequent conflict in Gaza. According to the Community Security Trust, over 4,000 antisemitic incidents were recorded in 2024 alone, marking an all-time high. Jewish leaders and advocacy groups have called for stronger protections and more decisive action against hate-fueled violence.

Rabbi Jonathan Romain, head of the Rabbinic Court of Great Britain, described the attack as “every rabbi’s worst nightmare,” emphasizing the sacredness of Yom Kippur and the vulnerability of mass gatherings. Local residents, including eyewitnesses, recounted scenes of chaos and fear as the suspect crashed into the synagogue gates and began his assault.

As investigations continue, the U.K. grapples with the implications of this tragedy, reaffirming its commitment to safeguarding religious communities and confronting the scourge of terrorism and hate.