Terrible Scenes At Heaton Park Synagogue

[VillaDiodati]

Absolutely shocking attack at the Heaton Park Synagogue in Crumpsall North Manchester. My heart goes out to all those hurt and affected by this terrible atrocity.

He looked like a very confused old man. I think the fact she didn't drag him away possibly means it wasn't her dad or someone she knew.

If she didn't know him I would wonder if she was a bit nervous about dragging or pulling him in case people thought she was part of the attack and was hurting him?

I don't think any of us know how we'd react until we were in the midst of it. We can only hope we'd react in the best way. When the shop I had my Saturday job in when I was at uni was held up I didn't react as I'd expect, and the second time it happened all my "if it happens I will..." went right out the window.

It's true though. A certain section of our society will play on this to instill even more hatred. I have witnessed this already today at my workplace.

And the cycle of hatred will continue. And views will be increasingly polarised. And we lose sight of the fact that innocent people are being killed.

And it’s not just the marches. Anyone who has been to Speaker’s Corner in London will find it is absolutely knee deep in Palestinian flags.

But what even is ‘hatred’? I’m not sure I believe in ‘hatred’ as an arbitrary term. Even Osama Bin Laden wasn’t lead by ‘hatred’, he was lead by political or religious views we find abhorrent and murderous. Everyone has some kind of ‘reasoning’ even if to the rest of the world it makes no sense.

Until we can break down the complexities of both side’s grievances and address them, nothing will change. Making out it’s just this hate versus that hate, is just tribal and continues the cycle of revenge and revenge after that.

Isn't it funny how so many people claim to have Jewish friends who attend these marches. Despite there being only 250,000 Jews in the whole of the UK out of almost a population of 70,000,000 people.

@LeonMccogh - thank you.

@PollyPaintsFlowers - no need to be so rude. Obviously there will be local people on this thread, I'm allowed to ask a question about my son getting there I think?

We're talking about a terrible tragedy and you wanted travel advice!

You seriously thought this was the right time and place for that?!

Totally!

I have been in London during various marches. Visiting a friend and various theatre visits. Quite honestly I am not convinced they arent stirring up hatred. You can hear them everywhere. The Palenstein flag was rentless.. People shouting all sorts. At one point someone shouted in my face that I should join the march. Lets not even go into the cost of managing these endless marches.

We claim to be tolerant and diverse. We clearly arent now and are allowing all sorts of things to go on and the result is the incident today

I had someone on here tell me that they marched alongside Jews who had walked to and from NW London and Stoke Newington (because Jews can't use cars or public transport etc on Saturdays) with their children (!) just so they could take part in the Pro-Palestine marches 😂

Being the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, a lot/most of religious Jews will have their phones off and will not be getting news from TV or radio.

Bear in mind that many may only know that this has happened once the fast is over this evening.

It was announced at my synagogue this morning that there was an incident in Manchester, and a reminder to move away from the gates swiftly after the service. I'm very grateful for the CST and security volunteers today.

But what’s also weird is a Jewish person who attends shul, has all Jewish family and many many Jewish friends, I don’t know a single Jew who has been on one of these marches?

We are off to shul soon, my little DS has been sobbing all day. This is awful, it’s truly awful and unbelievable this could happen in the UK and what’s worse is the gloating, celebrations and earnest explanation about how actually yes isn’t it dreadful but you know, Palestine. This is why we need Israel. It is the only place on Earth we can try to be safe. I don’t agree with the current actions of the government. Despite that, Am Yisrael Chai. Always.

You’re part of the problem. How dare you!

Real anti semetism has never gone away and is not far from the surface despite proclamations of being anti Zionist not anti Jew etc etc.

There was a recent survey in Italy which showed 15% of respondents (or 3 in 20) felt that it was entirely or fairly justifiable to physically attack Jews.

https://www.reuters.com/world/italy-poll-finds-15-see-attacks-jewish-people-justifiable-2025-09-30/

I guess I see hatred as things like laughing about children being killed. Someone I work with openly put laughing emojis on Facebook about 2 children dying in an attempted boat crossing for example. And there is talk in my office every day about what they think should happen to certain types of people and the awful names they call them.

Today I have been told that we (Britain) should "sort them all out like Trump is doing".

I don't understand why the Jewish community get so much hate, they tend to keep themselves to themselves, and so many people who are jewish you wouldn't even know. Look how many famous people are jewish yet they barely mention it, if at all. They just want to live their lives same as the rest of us

I live in an area of London where there is a large Jewish community and yes many of my friends are all of all faiths including Jewish friends who have attended the marches and are outraged by the Israeli government's actions. Its concerning that you are suggesting that Jewish people are able to mix with people from other faiths and also can express their views by attending marches! Maybe it's you who is narrow minded.

Hilarious

I've just driven past the synagogue in my town. There are police cars outside, what a sad sight.

I’m not Jewish but I have family who are, and this is why I am a Zionist - because it is their (evidenced, by today as well as virtually every other day) belief that without Israel, any ‘home’ could become actively hostile at any moment. People even accuse others of being ‘Zionists’ like it’s an objectively bad label they will want to immediately deny, it’s madness. Your poor DS.

https://www.jewishvoiceforlabour.org.uk/article/marches-for-palestine-do-not-threaten-jews/

Hilarious- agreed!

This was a planned attack probably on all Jewish communities in the UK. The police already knew that something was brewing, which is why armed police were there within 4 minutes of getting the call. There are terror cells including Hamas operatives in cities in the UK including Luton and Birmingham. This is a well known fact. Hospitals are on lockdown, armed police immediately outside synagogues and a bomb squad on site in Manchester. There’s no way on earth that all that could have been coordinated within such a short time unless the authorities knew there was something happening. I’m not surprised, I’m just sad that the already dwindling Jewish community feel so helpless and intimidated, and their allies are so few and far between.
I don’t care what words you want to use for Israel, there are countless horrific wars going on all around the world, yet it’s only the Jews being vilified and targeted, as if the actions of Israel justify hatred and terror. You will all understand one day, I am certain of that. Because it starts with the Jews, it never ends with us.

I agree and have shared my open disgust at people who laugh or use the laughing emojis, about posts regarding drowned children in the Channel or badly maimed Gazan children. I have zero issue in completely, unequivocally condemning it and calling them out.

@PollyPaintsFlowers - you seem to be spoiling for a fight on this thread. Not helpful for anyone.

Who asked anyone to use critical thinking here ? Isn't there a law against it somewhere ?