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.

After today's tragic incident does anyone believe anything will now be done to stem the awful anti semitism which has swept the country since October 7th? Surely, it can't be ignored anymore? Please let these people's lives mean something.

@YellowDaze no

"The Terrorism Act 2000 defines terrorism, both in and outside of the UK, as the use or threat of one or more of the actions listed below, and where they are designed to influence the government, or an international governmental organisation or to intimidate the public. The use or threat must also be for the purpose of advancing a political, religious, racial or ideological cause."

I wouldn't dream of having a copy cough spit

Okay thanks @MyHeartyCoralSnail and @soupyspoon maybe I need to read up on this a bit more.

I'm furious and heartbroken. How dare the murderer do this. The British Jewish population is tiny and has been made even more vulnerable by our government failing to prioritise their protection. Thank you to a PP for suggesting a donation to the CST as a way of showing solidarity. Most of us won't know any Jewish people IRL to offer support.

I'm an immigrant and not a supporter of Reform.

But to be fucking honest I'm more concerned about the TERRORIST ATTACKS actions than Reform at this particular moment in time.

And I've also got to say, I haven't seen any Jewish people running around the UK murdering anyone. Ever. And it is feeding into Reform even more when people stick their fingers over their eyes and ignore who it is murdering people regularly.

But I'm still hearing some 'both sides' bullshit on social media about thsi brutal attack, and it is sickening. As if Jewish peopel in the UK are just as bad as actual terrorists.

I don't believe anything will change. It made me sick to hear Sadiq Khan's gaslighting in his statement earlier

It has hardened my resolve to support my Jewish friends and my belief in how important the existence, safety and security of Israel is though

There’s an influencer I follow who posts all the time about Gaza, constant posts about children that have died etc. Today: nothing, not one word about the victims in Manchester. I can’t help but feel that she is probably celebrating what has happened. It’s a very nasty and insidious anti-Semitism that has taken hold.

I have followed the conflict for more than thirty years and I’ve always been horrified by the atrocities on both sides.

But I'm still hearing some 'both sides' bullshit on social media about thsi brutal attack, and it is sickening. As if Jewish peopel in the UK are just as bad as actual terrorists.

There is such a double stance

standard

Thanks for that, I think that sounds like a good organisation to donate to 👍

So it’s clear they’ve labelled it as terrorist because the attack was to intimidate a certain section of the public (which it now has) but how do they know it was to advance a religious or ideological cause?

I feel so frustrated and bloody angry. The Jewish community have been ignored, their worried dismissed. It can't continue, it just can't. I too, have strengthened my support after today. All we can do is continue to stand alongside them and speak up against anti semitism at every opportunity. I can't watch anymore sky news.

but how do they know it was to advance a religious or ideological cause?

presumably they know what they are doing?

I guess we will find that out in due course.

This is awful.

Sadly, it felt inevitable. There is so much hate out there.

It is very unlikely. The country has lost a grip of all the isms and phobias that dog society, so they'll continue pretty much unabated.

What has happened at Heaton Park is absolutely tragic and I understand how terrifying it is to have people hate you just for being. My heart goes out to the community and families of the deceased and injured.

@DrBlackbird are you questioning whether it is a terrorist attach or not? It's normal for information to be withheld from the public.

No. It will be all platitudes from government but they won’t do anything to stop antisemitism.

I live among the Jewish community near to here and they’ve had security guards on their synagogues and schools for years. It’s utterly shameful that one section of society has to do this and nothing is done to address it.

But you know what's on page 5 ?

I was listening to LBC earlier and they were saying that security guards are kept at the Jewish school gates in Manchester just so the children can be safe in their schools. They said the attacks have increased exponentially in the past year. Innocent children. Hard to believe this is Britain in 2025.

Is this really true?

Muslims account for 5% of the population yet they account for 90% of people on the MI5 watchlist.

Any observant Jew (including my own parents) won't even have heard of this yet. This is going to reverberate for hours throughout the Jewish community as sundown goes across the world. My parents are going to find out in the middle of the night on our time (they live overseas). So I'm going to wake up to their shock and horror tomorrow. And we will all be bracing for whatever is coming next.

I absolutely understand there are people who live in fear for all sorts of reasons, but this specific fear is spreading. I'm wondering if I'm going to miss the moment where it is like when the Jews' lives changed in the 1930s - I'm a part of the UK and a British citizen with a decent job and a good life... until one day I am something else altogether. It all feels rather hopeless right now.

I'm always struck by this. The synagogue near me has huge fences, security gates, security guards and cameras.
My church is near there, the doors are wide open for people to come in and pray. Such a stark contrast.