Terror at Dawn: The Manchester Synagogue Attack
On the holiest day of the Jewish calendar—Yom Kippur—worshippers at the Heaton Park Congregation in Manchester, England, faced unimaginable horror. At 9:31 a.m. on Thursday, October 2, 2025, a lone assailant launched a coordinated terrorist attack that would leave two dead, one critically injured, and a community shaken to its core.
How It Unfolded: A Minute-by-Minute Timeline
- 9:31 a.m. – Jihad al-Shamie, a Syrian-born British citizen, rams his vehicle into pedestrians outside the synagogue.
- 9:32 a.m. – Al-Shamie exits the car armed with a knife and charges toward the synagogue entrance.
- 9:33 a.m. – Congregants shout, “Shut the doors!” and physically barricade the entrance—including the rabbi.
- 9:35 a.m. – Armed police arrive on scene.
- 9:38 a.m. – Officers open fire, killing al-Shamie. Two bystanders are struck by police bullets.
- 9:40 a.m. – Attack ends. Total duration: 7 minutes.
Victims Identified
| Name | Age | Status | Cause of Death/Injury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adrian Daulby | 53 | Deceased | Preliminary reports suggest police gunfire |
| Melvin Cravitz | 66 | Deceased | Struck by vehicle or knife; under investigation |
| Unnamed congregant | N/A | Injured | Non-fatal police bullet wound |
Heroism in the Face of Terror
Witness Ivan Telzer recounted the chaos: “We were in the middle of prayer when people started shouting. Some of us, including the rabbi, threw our bodies against the doors.” Their quick thinking likely prevented a massacre inside the sanctuary, where roughly 20 worshippers were gathered.
Who Was the Attacker?
[INTERNAL_LINK:Jihad al-Shamie] was a known figure to counterterrorism units but had not been flagged as an imminent threat. Authorities are investigating possible links to extremist networks and his digital footprint for signs of radicalization.
Community and National Response
- UK Prime Minister condemned the attack as “an assault on all of us.”
- Manchester’s Jewish community—Britain’s second-largest—holds vigils and calls for unity.
- Police increase patrols near places of worship nationwide.
Infographic: Anatomy of the Attack
Date: October 2, 2025 (Yom Kippur)
Attack Method: Vehicle ramming + knife assault
Duration: 7 minutes
Fatalities: 2 (plus attacker)
Injured: 1+ (including police bullet collateral)
Perpetrator Status: Killed by police
