THE Bishop of Manchester, Dr David Walker, has urged communities to “draw closer to one another in love”, after two people were killed, and four left in hospital, in an attack on a synagogue in Manchester.
“Hate can never defeat hate, only love can conquer hate. Today, we stand in solidarity with our Jewish neighbours and reaffirm our shared commitment to peace and safety for all,” he said.
According to reports, at about 9.30 a.m. on Friday a car was driven towards worshippers who had gathered outside the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue, and at least one person was stabbed.
Police firearms officers shot and killed a man who is believed to be the suspect, and it was later reported that two other people had been arrested.
The attack, which has been declared a terrorist incident by police, took place on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, marked by fasting and atonement.
The Archbishop of York wrote on social media that he sent his “deepest sympathy” to the Jewish community and to everyone affected, and reposted a prayer issued by the Church of England in response to the attack.
Dr Walker said in a statement that he was “deeply shocked and saddened” by the attack. “My thoughts and prayers are with all those affected — the victims, their families, and the wider Jewish community,” he said.
“Such acts of violence have no place in our communities. Manchester is a city built on diversity, mutual respect, and unity. As we showed after the horrific terrorist attack of 2017, the way we defy those who seek to sow seeds of hatred in our community is to draw closer to one another in love.
“I commend the swift response of the emergency services and offer my full support to those working to bring healing and justice in the wake of this tragedy. Let us continue to pray for those injured, for the community in grief, and for the courage to stand together against hatred in all its forms.”
The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, the Rt Revd Rosie Frew, said that her Church stood “in deep sorrow and solidarity with our Jewish neighbours following today’s abhorrent attack on the Jewish community in Manchester”.
It was “particularly grievous” that the violence had occurred on Yom Kippur, she said.
Yom Kippur ends at sundown on Friday, and some Jewish organisations are not expected to comment until it has concluded.
The rabbi emeritus of Maidenhead Synagogue, Dr Jonathan Romain, who is a leader in Progressive Judaism, told PA that tensions over the war in Gaza had “spilled over” into the UK. “For the last two years, we were desperately trying to make sure that whatever was going on in the Middle East was not imported here. This has shown that our worst fears have been realised,” he said.
The Prime Minister described the attack as “absolutely shocking”, and said that additional police had been deployed to synagogues around the UK.
“We will do everything to keep our Jewish community safe,” Sir Keir Starmer said. He cut short a trip to Denmark in order to chair a meeting of Cobra.
The Muslim Council of Britain said that it “unequivocally” condemned the attack, and said that “thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families, and the Jewish community at this difficult time”.
A co-chair of the British Muslim Network, Qari Asim, said that the attack was “utterly abhorrent” and had no place in society. “Places of worship must always be sanctuaries of peace and safety — not scenes of fear and hatred,” he said.