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Manchester terror attack sparks fear of further violence and division between faiths

Both Jewish and Muslim residents of Manchester, a northern English city, expressed concern about a possible rise in violence in response to the deadly attack on a synagogue.

Jihad al-Shamie is a British man, 35, of Syrian descent. He drove his car into pedestrians, then started stabbing people outside Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in Manchester on Yom Kippur. This was the holiest of days for the Jewish calendar. The attack resulted in the deaths of two men.

While the Jewish community grieved and wondered about their future in Britain the Muslim residents were concerned that they had been unfairly targeted.

Feeling of increasing isolation

Marc Levy of the Jewish Leadership Council, Manchester, said that yesterday, "our worst fears became reality."

He said that the community felt more isolated over the past two years, as tensions related to the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas on Gaza spilled into Britain's streets.

He said that it was "very difficult" to express how the Jewish Community felt at the moment, and added that "Jewish People here are actively unsure if we have a place in the United Kingdom."

The Community Security Trust (which provides security for Jewish organizations in Britain) recorded 1,521 incidents of antisemitism during the first six months of 2025, the second highest total. More than half of the incidents were related to the Gaza Conflict, which began on October 7, 2023 with Hamas' attacks.

Separately, the Institute for Jewish Policy Research conducted a survey that found over one-third British Jews rate their own personal safety as being at the low end of the 10-point scale. This is more than three times the number before the attacks of October 7.

Fear of Backlash

Dawud Taj is a 28 year old British Muslim living in Manchester. It's a large and diverse city. He told us that the country is going through an extremely worrying period.

He said: "I understand how it feels for the Jewish Community to be attacked. And, you know, going into their place of worship is, to me, one of the most horrific and senseless things that can happen."

Taj expressed his sympathy for the Jewish community but now he is also concerned about his Muslim family.

Tell MAMA, a group that monitors Islamophobia in the United States, has recorded 913 incidents between June 2025 and September 2025. This includes 17 attacks against mosques and Islamic institutions. The group reported earlier this year that Islamophobic attacks had increased sharply since the year 2022.

He said, "I am afraid that someone will blame them and attack them." "I'm not sure I've ever felt worried, but I do now."

The police in London have said that they will be increasing their presence both at synagogues as well as mosques this weekend. (Reporting Sam Tabahriti; additional reporting Yoruk Bahceli, Editing Aidan Lewis).

(source: Reuters)