Manchester attack ‘an act of calculated barbarity’
Two members of the Jewish community in Manchester were killed and four were injured in a deadly car ramming and stabbing attack on Yom Kippur.
Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ) president Daniel Aghion has described the deadly Yom Kippur attack outside a Manchester synagogue as “an outrage”.
Two members of the Jewish community in Manchester were killed and four were injured. British police said that the suspect is believed to be 35-year-old British citizen of Syrian descent, Jihad al-Shamie.
Al-Shamie was shot dead by armed officers after ramming a car into pedestrians and stabbing at least one person near a synagogue during Yom Kippur.
The police added that three suspects — two men in their 30s and a woman in her 60s — are currently in custody and “have been arrested on suspicion of commission, preparation and instigation of acts of terrorism.”
Aghion said it was not only an attack on the Jewish community of one synagogue, “it was an attack on religious freedom”.
“Whatever sick reason might have motivated the perpetrator to murder two people at random and seriously injure four others, it points to a collapse of basic moral values. No religious, political or ideological motivation can adequately explain, let alone justify, such an act of calculated barbarity,” he said.
“Our hearts go out to the families of those who were murdered and to the injured, and to the whole Jewish community in the UK who have yet again been traumatised. The Australian Jewish community stands with them in solidarity and we offer them our complete support.
“Yom Kippur is a day of fasting and prayer, of searching one’s soul and examining one’s personal life to acknowledge failures and shortcomings and resolve to do better. Perhaps there is a message there for others as well.
“Although not directly linked to this particular attack, the harsh and untruthful critical rhetoric we have seen from anti-Israel mobs time and again on our streets and in our media has been seized on to enliven and exploit antisemitic prejudices more broadly, and on occasions to plan and carry out crimes of the kind that we have just seen occurring in Manchester. They need to reflect on their actions and their words”.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has sent condolences to the people of Manchester.
“There is no place for terrorism in our streets and all Australians stand with the UK at this dreadful time,” he said.
Opposition leader Sussan Ley said her thoughts are with the families of those who have been killed and injured “in this cowardly, evil attack”.
“The threat of terrorism requires continual vigilance and courage from our police and first responders,” she said.
“To target worshippers and families as they gather together for the holiest period of the Jewish faith is despicable beyond words. All people, regardless of religion have the right to worship in peace and should feel they can do so without fear or apprehension.”
British Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis said the toxic environment of Jew hatred in the country made such an event all but inevitable.
“This is the day we hoped we would never see, but which deep down, we knew would come,” Mirvis posted on X.
“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.”
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said British Jews are “currently suffering from a horrific wave of antisemitism.”
“The truth must be told: blatant and rampant antisemitic and anti-Israeli incitement, as well as calls of support for terror, have recently become a widespread phenomenon in the streets of London, in cities across Britain, and on its campuses,” Sa’ar posted on X.
“The authorities in Britain have failed to take the necessary action to curb this toxic wave of antisemitism and have effectively allowed it to persist.”
Sa’ar added that Israel “expects more than words from the Starmer government.”
“We expect and demand a change of course, effective action, and enforcement against the rampant antisemitic and anti-Israeli incitement in Britain.”
As a result of the attack, the Community Security Group (CSG) announced it would be significantly increasing protection and patrols around shules across Australia.
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