Manchester Synagogue Attack Memorial Attended by 800 as Community Fears Rising Antisemitism

Memorial Service Brings Together Community and Officials

The service of remembrance began at 20:00 BST inside the Manchester synagogue, bringing together members of the Jewish community, emergency services representatives, and local and national politicians. Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis and Communities Secretary Angela Rayner were among the attendees. Two empty seats bearing the names of Melvin Cravitz and Adrian Daulby remained in place throughout the event.

King Charles addressed the gathering through a message read at the start of the service. The monarch wrote that he and his wife hold those whose lives were disrupted closely in their thoughts and prayers. The message noted that while months have passed, the shock and sorrow remain undiminished, adding that the memory of Adrian Daulby and Melvin Cravitz, alongside injured survivors Andrew Franks, Bernard Agyemang, and Yoni Finlay, remains vivid.

Community Faces Ongoing Security Concerns

Prior to the commemorative event, Rabbi Daniel Walker expressed concern that the Jewish community feels less safe now than immediately after the attack. Walker stated that rising antisemitism combined with insufficient action has left members of the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation feeling increasingly vulnerable.

Yoni Finlay, who was injured by a stray police bullet while helping barricade doors during the attack, described the ongoing local impact. Finlay stated that the community lives behind increasing gates and heavier security, noting that Jewish people are hiding their identity and that his own college-aged son has faced death threats.

Details of the October 2025 Assault

The attack occurred on October 2, 2025, during Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. Jihad Al-Shamie, a 35-year-old Syrian-born British citizen, drove into the gates of the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in Crumpsall, north Manchester, wearing a fake suicide belt and carrying a knife.

Melvin Cravitz died after being stabbed multiple times by the attacker, who tried to force his way inside the temple. Adrian Daulby sustained a single, fatal gunshot wound when he was inadvertently struck by a police bullet while trying to help barricade the doors. Armed police shot and killed Al-Shamie at the scene.

Themes of Resilience and Defiance

Raphi Bloom, chair of the Yom Kippur Commemoration, told attendees that the service was designed to demonstrate resilience and ensure that Jewish life continues to flourish. Bloom emphasized that the community refuses to be intimidated, defined by hatred, or driven from their home of more than two centuries.

Additional speakers at the memorial included Alan Levy, who helped barricade the doors against the attacker, and Greater Manchester Police Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson. Organizers scheduled the commemoration for August rather than October to align with the religious anniversary on the Hebrew calendar, as Yom Kippur fell in September this year.