A deadly terror attack at a synagogue in Manchester has left two people dead and several others seriously injured, sending shockwaves through the United Kingdom's Jewish community and highlighting what officials describe as a persistent and evolving terror threat.
The incident occurred on October 2, 2025, at the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue as worshippers observed Yom Kippur, the holiest day in Judaism. According to Greater Manchester Police, a man deliberately drove his car into pedestrians before launching a stabbing attack. A security guard was among the two fatalities.
Police, who have declared the event a major incident and a terrorist attack, shot the suspect dead at the scene. The subsequent discovery of what appeared to be an explosive vest on the assailant prompted a bomb squad response and complicated the investigation. Authorities have since made two arrests in connection with the attack.
The violence has stoked significant fear within the Jewish community, which is already grappling with a surge in antisemitic incidents. The attack took place near the second anniversary of the October 2023 Hamas attacks on Israel, a conflict that has been linked to a sharp rise in antisemitic acts in Britain. According to reports, over 3,500 such cases were recorded in 2024, more than double the figure from two years prior.
In response to the Manchester attack, prime minister Keir Starmer returned from an overseas meeting to chair an emergency session, ordering increased security at synagogues and Jewish sites nationwide. King Charles and other international leaders expressed their solidarity with the community. Jewish organizations, such as the Community Security Trust, have advised members to remain vigilant and avoid congregating in large groups outside places of worship.
This attack is the latest in a series of recent terrorism-related incidents across the UK, pointing to a complex and multi-faceted threat. In Bristol, an 18-year-old woman was recently charged with engaging in preparation for terrorist acts, as well as attempted murder. Separately, coordinated raids by Counter Terrorism Policing North East led to the arrests of four men in Yorkshire, Derbyshire, and the West Midlands on suspicion of plotting terrorist acts.
The judicial system is also handling cases linked to proscribed organizations. In London, six individuals appeared at the Old Bailey court on charges of supporting Palestine Action, a group banned under anti-terrorism laws in July 2025. This international dimension of the threat was further underscored by the recent arrests of suspected Hamas members in Germany, who were allegedly planning attacks on Jewish institutions in Europe.
These events align with the government's assessment of the national security landscape. The UK's official terrorism threat level is currently "substantial," meaning an attack is considered likely. A government counter-terrorism strategy updated in 2025 identifies Islamic terrorism as the primary domestic threat and notes the amplifying role of the internet in radicalization.
Deputy assistant commissioner Vicki Evans, senior national co-ordinator for Counter Terrorism Policing, recently described the threat as "smouldering," warning of a "conveyor belt of young people" as young as 10 being exposed to extreme online content. Police and security services have successfully prevented 43 late-stage terror plots since 2017.
To bolster public safety, the government enacted the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, widely known as Martyn's Law, in April 2025. The legislation, created in response to the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing, mandates that venues and event organizers implement security plans and staff training to prepare for potential attacks.