By Maira Butt
Muslim leaders say they stand in solidarity with the Jewish community after the attack on the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue on Yom Kippur, in which two people and the killer died.
Imam Qari Asim, in a statement issued by the British Muslim Network, said he was “horrified” by Thursday’s attack in Manchester, on the holiest day of the Jewish calendar. “This act of violence is utterly abhorrent and has no place in our society,” he said.
“We cannot ignore the growing tide of religious hatred in our country. The bloodshed and violence in the Middle East … must not be allowed to poison our streets in Britain. Together, we must reject hatred, resist division and reaffirm our shared commitment to peace, human dignity and coexistence.”
Two Jewish men, Adrian Daulby, 53, and Melvin Cravitz, 66, died in the attack. One of the victims was hit by police gunfire “as a tragic and unforeseen consequence”, Greater Manchester Police said.
The attacker, named Jihad Al-Shamie, 35, is said to have been an Islamist extremist who was not known to counter-terrorism authorities.
Security at synagogues is now being increased around the country. The Community Security Trust said: “Everyone attending synagogue or other Jewish premises must follow all instructions from security guards and police officers.”
Mr Daulby was killed as he tried to stop Al-Shamie from entering the synagogue in Crumpsall. His family wrote a touching tribute to a “down-to-earth man whose final act was to save others”.
Mr Cravitz, 66, was described as to be a “kind” person who was “always smiling”.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct has opened an investigation into the incident.
The British Muslim Trust, an organisation funded by the government to monitor instances of Islamophobic hate crimes, called the killing “despicable” and “cowardly”.
The Manchester Council of Mosques said it was “shocked” and “saddened” to hear the news. “Manchester has always been a city where people of all faiths and backgrounds live side by side,” it said.
“The Muslim and Jewish communities in particular have long shared strong ties of neighbourliness and co-operation. Any attempt to divide us through hatred will fail — we remain united in our commitment to peace and mutual respect.”
The call for unity is spreading beyond Manchester, with Jewish and Muslim leaders in Sheffield joining forces to denounce the violence and stand in solidarity.
Jane Ginsborg, who chairs Sheffield and District Reform Jewish Community, told the Religion Media Centre she had received messages of support from the British Muslim community.
Abtisam Mohamed, the Labour MP for Sheffield Central, wrote to Professor Ginsborg to share her concerns for the Jewish community in Sheffield. “This is a time for all of us to stand united against antisemitism, hatred and violence and to show our shared commitment to a society where everyone feels safe and valued,” she said.
Professor Ginsborg said she had also received messages from faith leaders at the Madina Masjid organisation to express their sympathy for the community’s loss and offer their support.
“I am glad to have the support of friends and colleagues across the faith community,” she said. “We have been building interfaith relationships and on an occasion like this, we see the effects of that. I’ve heard from Muslim friends and colleagues who have expressed their sadness and horror.”
Antisemitism and Islamophobia have risen at alarming rates since the 7 October attacks in 2023.
Majid Iqbal, chief executive of the Islamophobia Response Unit, said: “We are deeply distressed by recent attacks targeting people because of their faith and by the normalisation of violence against communities simply for practising their faith.”
Although Al-Shamie’s intentions have not been identified, many have linked it with a criticism of Israel.
The police say they are working to understand the motivation behind the attack, and the head of counter terrorism policing, Laurence Taylor, said that early inquiries suggest ideological motivations are likely a factor, but that “establishing the full circumstances is likely to take some time.”
Al-Shamie’s family said his involvement had been a “profound shock to us”. His father, Faraj, a trauma surgeon who has worked with NGOs in war zones across the world, issued a statement saying the family “strongly condemns the heinous act, which targeted peaceful, innocent civilians.
“We fully distance ourselves from this attack and express our deep shock and sorrow over what has happened. Our hearts and thoughts are with the victims and their families, and we pray for their strength and comfort.”
Two men in their thirties and a woman in her sixties have also been arrested on suspicion of planning a terrorist attack in connection with the Manchester killing.
