EWTN News, Oct 2, 2025 / 10:40 am (CNA).
Bishop John Arnold of Salford has condemned a deadly attack on a Manchester synagogue during Yom Kippur, calling for solidarity and prayer with the Jewish community.
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales released Arnold’s statement on Thursday following the morning assault at Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue, where a knife-wielding assailant reportedly struck worshippers gathered for prayer.
“The local Catholic community stand united in our prayers for the Jewish community following the tragic attack on a synagogue in Manchester,” Arnold declared Oct. 2. “We condemn such acts and pray for the injured, emergency responders, and all affected.”
The British prelate emphasized the need for interfaith unity against extremism, stating: “Let us work together in hope to strengthen our community solidarity. We must remain united in our common beliefs against those who sow hatred and division. We also pray for peace and tolerance around the U.K. and the world.”
According to BBC News, police officers reported being alerted at 9:31 a.m. local time to a car-ramming and stabbing outside the synagogue. Armed officers shot a man believed to be the suspect at 9:38 a.m.
Since the man was found with “suspicious items” strapped to his body, bomb disposal teams were called and later carried out a controlled explosion.
The suspect is presumed dead, though official confirmation remains pending. Three additional victims remain in serious condition.
The timing of the assault during Yom Kippur — the holiest day in the Jewish calendar — has fueled fears of targeted religious violence.
A large congregation had gathered for morning prayers when the attack commenced.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer abbreviated his attendance at the Denmark summit to chair emergency meetings, announcing enhanced police protection for synagogues nationwide.
“We will do everything to keep our Jewish community safe,” Starmer emphasized, calling the Yom Kippur timing particularly “horrific.”
King Charles III expressed being “deeply shocked and saddened” by the violence. The monarch commended emergency responders’ swift action.
The investigation continues with heavy police presence maintaining security around the synagogue.
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Is it too soon to say “the religion of peace”?
Readers, please see this eye-opening article by historian R. Ibrahim on the decisive battle in A.D. 626 that led to the fall of the then Christian Middle East, North Africa, etc.
https://www.raymondibrahim.com/08/20/2025/articles-of-the-day
it is 636 not 626; my eyesight is going and it is harder and harder for me to type
BTW the first name of the knife-wielding attacker at the Manchester synagogue is Jihad. I am not making this up. Media is avoiding mentioning his name. He is a perfectly integrated British citizen of Syrian origin. The wise British police are still trying to figure out his “motive”.. He will probably be declared to be psychotic. See
https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2025/10/03/two-victims-of-manchester-synagogue-attack-may-have-been-accidentally-shot-by-police-force-says/
Blah, Blah, Blah. Neither the article nor the bishop’s statement mentions anything about the identity and background of the killer. Of course, the incident will not in any way shake the absolute commitment of the Church hierarchy’s to open borders. The same can also be said of Jews. The condemnations are an insult to all victims of crimes that the policies they advocate make possible.
I’m not sure I understand your comments Mr. Tony but I read on the BBC that the killer was a British citizen brought to the UK as a child. Perhaps that info. was not yet available at the time this article was written.
You understood my comments and Jihad Al-Shamie was not British in any meaningful sense of the word. Your word games are tiresome and less clever than you think.
Mr Tony, Britain has the right to define who their citizens are just as we do.
Oer the Daily Mail, the killer’s father is a medical professional who cheered on October 7th.
Sorry, Per. Not Oer.
Early morning typo.
🙂
When citizenship is granted en masse to anyone who can flop onto shore from a raft or get a plane ticket paid for by Soros or the UN, then it has been cheapened to the point of being worthless. The people of the West did not vote for bringing in hundreds of millions of culturally incompatible foreigners from every corner of the globe. This was imposed on us by a transnational elite. he Moors who had dominated Spain for centuries no doubt thought they were entitled to stay. They found out otherwise. Something similar is going to have to take place again in Europe, North America and Australia.
The government of the UK itself is responsible for the violence. The government has become the prime example of using its office against those who PEACEFULLY protest and express their ideas and views. The British government better get its act together before it’s too late. The British people better wake up, have a conversion of heart and return to acknowledging Christ as their Savior. A godless people will not be able to resist the ravages of barbaric Islam.
For those of us who live in the United States, we must be concerned about KEEPING OUR RIGHT OF PEACEFUL PROTEST TO EXPRESS OUR IDEAS AND VIEWS.
Yes, and the greatest threat comes from the progressive ideology you support. How ironic 🙄.
Dear Deacon, your posting appears to blame the British government for the violent attack on the Manchester synagogue.
As no sane adult, especially a Christian, could think, much less say that, perhaps you would clarify what you were saying?
Thank you.
Kieran, Go review the news articles about the current Labour government over the past year. No sane person could read about the actions of the British government in this period and not hold them culpable of instigating violence. I will rest my case.
Perhaps, deacon, more of your concern should be about our present government.
Thank you Deacon, for your interesting views on the recent violence against Jews in Manchester.
I regret wasting my time asking for them.
This extremist behavior is simply not acceptable in Manchester, England or anywhere else in the world. The Jewish community of England or other parts of the world must not be blamed or held hostage for the ravages of war in the Middle East. The Jewish community has a God given right to exist and live in peace. Let’s not repeat the Holocaust once again!
We have friends in the UK who are nominal Christians. Their daughter married a Jew and “converted” to his faith in order for their two sons to be considered Jewish. Recenly, our friends told us that their daughter had cautioned her sons to “never mention outside the house to anyone that they were Jewish.” Let that sink in. Visiond of Kristalnach!
The Babylon Bee had a satire article about British Jews arrested for inciting violence by being too obviously Jewish.
The situation is even worse in France today.
Here we go again. This happens in the USA also. No one seems to want to provide security
in advance against the threat – any threat. Study the options. Consider using sensible police our usher protection.