British Police Arrest Two Suspects Planning Manchester Synagogue Attack
British counter-terrorism forces arrested two terror suspects in Manchester planning an attack on the local Jewish community, one year after the Heaton Park synagogue massacre.
British counter-terrorism police arrested two suspects plotting an attack against the Jewish community in Manchester, exactly one year after a deadly assault at the Heaton Park synagogue in the city. According to reports, the arrests took place on Sunday afternoon when police raided a house on Newton Street in Manchester's Northern Quarter, apprehending two individuals on terrorism offenses. Authorities subsequently raided a hostel in Salford and an apartment in Liverpool.
The development follows a shooting attack at the B'nai Yaakov synagogue in Belleville, Ontario, Canada. An undercover police officer stationed at the site amid heightened security protocols was critically wounded in a shootout with the gunman, a 29-year-old suspect who sustained mortal injuries. Both were transported to a hospital, and Ontario's Special Investigations Unit launched an inquiry.
Official Responses and Witness Accounts
Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement noting that the terror attack at the B'nai Yaakov synagogue on Yom Kippur Eve marks a severe escalation of antisemitism in Canada. The ministry praised the wounded officer's bravery and expressed solidarity with the Canadian Jewish community facing an increasingly threatening environment, emphasizing that unaddressed incitement and anti-Israel policies fuel antisemitism.
Synagogue director Norman Woodam recounted the moments of panic when gunshots rang out, prompting him to guide worshippers to safety. "We ran back into the synagogue hall, closed the doors behind us, and I shouted for everyone to get down on the floor as the shots continued for a few more seconds," Woodam said.
"He arrived on the street with a firearm heading toward a synagogue where Jews were praying, so his intentions were quite clear," Woodam stated regarding the attacker.
Manchester Security Context
Last year on Yom Kippur, two people were killed in a terror attack at the Heaton Park synagogue in Manchester. A knife-wielding terrorist drove his vehicle into a group standing near the building, exited the car, and stabbed a security guard and worshippers. The attacker, wearing a vest raising suspicions of explosives, was shot dead by police officers. Three additional worshippers were severely injured, and security around Jewish institutions nationwide was subsequently reinforced.
