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Party leaders condemn attack on Manchester synagogue on Yom Kippur Starmer promises to increase police presence in Jewish communities after terror attack
(about 3 hours later)
Keir Starmer, Kemi Badenoch, Ed Davey and Nigel Farage express sympathy for victims and condemn attacker PM calls attack in Manchester an act of antisemitism and says country will stand up to hatred behind it
Manchester synagogue stabbing – latest updatesManchester synagogue stabbing – latest updates
The leaders of the UK’s major parties have condemned the Manchester attack, even as details about its nature and the attacker remained unclear. Keir Starmer has promised to strengthen police numbers in Jewish communities across the country after Thursday’s terrorist attack outside a synagogue in Manchester.
Keir Starmer interrupted a trip to Copenhagen on Thursday where he was meeting other European leaders at the European Political Community to fly back to the UK to chair a meeting of the government’s emergency Cobra committee. The prime minister called the attack in the Crumpsall area an act of antisemitism and said the country would stand up to the hatred behind it.
As he prepared to board his plane in Denmark, the prime minister said: “I’m appalled by the attack at a synagogue in Crumpsall. In a statement from Downing Street on Thursday evening, Starmer said: “Earlier today, on Yom Kippur, the holiest day for the Jewish community, a vile individual committed a terrorist attack that attacked Jews because they are Jews, and attacked Britain because of our values.
“The fact that this has taken place on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, makes it all the more horrific. My thoughts are with the loved ones of all those affected, and my thanks go to the emergency services and all the first responders. “So many Jewish families first came to this country as a place of refuge, fleeing the greatest evil ever inflicted on a people, and Britain welcomed them.
“I am on my way back to London. When I arrive, I will chair an emergency Cobra meeting. I’m already able to say that additional police assets are being deployed to synagogues across the country and we will do everything to keep our Jewish community safe. “Communities like the one attacked in Manchester provided safety, but also the security that comes from a promise that this is a country that stands up to hatred and that we don’t just provide refuge, we provide a home.”
“I’ve spoken to Mark Gardner of the CST [Community Security Trust], and Andy Burnham, the mayor of Manchester. I want to thank the emergency services for the speed of their response.” Vowing a police response in the coming days, he added: “I promise you that I will do everything in my power to guarantee you the security that you deserve, starting with a more visible police presence, protecting your community.
Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative leader, Ed Davey, the Liberal Democrat leader, and Nigel Farage, the Reform UK leader, all tweeted similar messages expressing sympathy for the victims and condemnation of the attacker. “I promise you that over the coming days, you will see the other Britain, the Britain of compassion, of decency, of love.”
“This was a vile and disgusting attack on a synagogue in Manchester,” Badenoch posted. “On Yom Kippur – the holiest day of the Jewish year – families gathered in prayer were targets for violence. My heart goes out to all those hurt and affected. I know many in our Jewish community will feel shaken. They deserve to know they are not alone. The prime minister was speaking hours after returning to the UK from a trip to Copenhagen, where he was meeting other leaders at the European Political Community.
Davey said: “Horrified and appalled by the attack outside Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. My thoughts are with the victims, our brave emergency services and the entire Jewish community.” Starmer chaired a meeting of the Cobra emergency committee before making his statement from No 10.
Farage wrote: “I am horrified by the attack at a synagogue in Manchester today, particularly on Yom Kippur – the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. My thoughts and prayers are with the families of those affected and the Jewish community who will be suffering at this time, and my thanks go to the emergency services.” The prime minister’s sentiments were echoed by other party leaders.
The Green party leader, Zack Polanski, who is Jewish and grew up near where the attack happened, said: “This horrific attack feels deeply personal for me as I grew up in the Jewish community in Manchester. My heart goes out to all those impacted by this dreadful act of terror. It is a sad reflection of the growing antisemitism we’ve witnessed for several years, as well as rising hate crime. It emphasises the importance of interfaith work; of bringing people together in our communities.” Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative leader, said: “One of my core beliefs is that we need to make sure that Britain is a safe country for Jewish people. Many people fled the Holocaust in Europe. They found sanctuary in the UK. We need to make sure that we continue to be a safe place for Jewish people.
Andy Burnham, the mayor of Manchester, gave much of the operational information about the status of the attack. “It is believed that the offender is deceased, although it’s not confirmed,” he told the BBC on Thursday morning. “And what we have seen over the last few years, especially since October 7, is an increase in the climate of intimidation and fear, an increase in antisemitism.”
“A degree of reassurance can be given that it’s not a developing, an ongoing, incident. It would appear that it is contained, although, obviously, the scene is very much an active scene.” Ed Davey, the Liberal Democrat leader, said: “Horrified and appalled by the attack outside Heaton Park Hebrew congregation synagogue on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. My thoughts are with the victims, our brave emergency services and the entire Jewish community.”
Nigel Farage, the leader of Reform UK, posted on X: “I am horrified by the attack at a synagogue in Manchester today, particularly on Yom Kippur – the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. My thoughts and prayers are with the families of those affected and the Jewish community who will be suffering at this time, and my thanks go to the emergency services.”
The Green party leader, Zack Polanski, who is Jewish and grew up near where the attack happened, said: “This horrific attack feels deeply personal for me as I grew up in the Jewish community in Manchester.
“My heart goes out to all those impacted by this dreadful act of terror. It is a sad reflection of the growing antisemitism we’ve witnessed for several years, as well as rising hate crime. It emphasises the importance of interfaith work; of bringing people together in our communities.”
At a press conference on Thursday evening, the mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, condemned the morning’s events as “a horrific antisemitic attack on our Jewish friends and neighbours”.
He appeared alongside the home secretary, Shabana Mahmood, who said security had been stepped up at synagogues across the country and promised that the government would “do whatever is required to keep our Jewish community safe”.
“I know that there are many questions that are still to be answered, and rest assured, they will be answered as quickly as possible,” she said. “It will just take a little time for us to establish exactly what has happened here, but we will share more information as soon as we are able to.”
Burnham added: “Greater Manchester will never stand aside when one of our communities is attacked. We ask everyone to show solidarity to the Jewish community this weekend, and already, we’ve mobilised through our interfaith network messages of support and solidarity through places of worship,” he said.
“We always will stand together here in Greater Manchester, and we will never let acts that are designed to cause hatred, division in our communities, violence – we will never let them succeed.”
The leader of Manchester city council, Bev Craig, said: “We know that this will leave a deep mark on our community here in Manchester, as Jewish people were attacked on their holiest day as they went to worship. But know this, in Manchester we will stand with and support our Jewish friends, our Jewish community, our neighbours, fellow residents.
“We’ll stand together, wrapping our arms around them with the love and the support that they need. We will work with agencies to make sure right across the city, everyone in our city feels safe.”