British police have identified the suspect in a deadly attack outside a synagogue in Manchester as Jihad al-Shamie, a 35-year-old British citizen of Syrian descent. The incident occurred around 9:30 a.m. local time when al-Shamie drove a car into a crowd near the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue. After crashing the vehicle, he exited the car and began stabbing worshippers.

Two people were killed, and four others were hospitalized in serious condition. Police confirmed that al-Shamie was shot dead by armed officers after the attack. Authorities stated, "We believe the person responsible for today's attacks is 35-year-old Jihad Al-Shamie. Based on what we currently know, our records do not show any previous prevent referrals relating to this individual."

In addition to al-Shamie, three other suspects—a woman in her 60s and two men in their 30s—are in custody. They have been arrested on suspicion of committing, preparing, and instigating acts of terrorism. Police are investigating the motivation behind the attack.

In response to the attack, Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar called for action against what he described as "rampant" antisemitism in the United Kingdom. He stated, "The truth must be told: blatant and rampant anti-Semitic and anti-Israeli incitement... have recently become a widespread phenomenon in the streets of London, in cities across Britain, and on its campuses." Sa'ar criticized British authorities for failing to address the rise in antisemitism.

Relations between Israel and the UK have been tense, particularly following the UK government's recognition of the State of Palestine at the United Nations General Assembly last month. British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer returned early from a summit in Denmark to lead an emergency meeting regarding the attack. He acknowledged the rise of antisemitic hatred in the country and pledged to ensure the security of British Jews.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the attack as "barbaric" and expressed solidarity with the Jewish community in the UK. He warned that "weakness in the face of terrorism only brings more terrorism" and emphasized the need for strength and unity to combat such acts.

The rise in antisemitism has been linked to a surge of violence that began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas militants launched a surprise attack on Israel from Gaza, resulting in significant casualties. The UK government reported a 25 percent increase in religious hate crimes in the year leading up to March 2024, attributing this spike largely to rising hate crimes against Jewish individuals.