Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has pledged that Britain will defeat what he called rising antisemitic hatred following the terrorist attack on a Manchester synagogue that left two members of the Jewish community dead and three seriously injured. Speaking after an emergency Cobra meeting, the Prime Minister promised increased police protection and vowed that Britain would “wrap our arms” around the Jewish community.
The attack at Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in Crumpsall occurred on Thursday morning during Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, when a terrorist drove a vehicle at pedestrians before launching a stabbing assault. The attacker was shot dead by armed police at the scene, with Greater Manchester Police confirming the incident as terrorism.
Returning early from a European Political Community summit in Copenhagen, Sir Keir delivered an emotional address to the nation, acknowledging that Jewish buildings across Britain now require round-the-clock protection due to daily antisemitic threats. “We must be clear it is a hatred that is rising once again, and Britain must defeat it once again,” he declared.
‘Jews Attacked Because They Are Jews’
In his statement following the emergency Cobra meeting, the Prime Minister was unequivocal in his condemnation of the attack. “Earlier today, on Yom Kippur, the holiest day for the Jewish community, a vile individual committed a terrorist attack that attacked Jews because they are Jews,” Sir Keir stated.
The stark acknowledgement of the antisemitic nature of the attack marked a decisive moment in the government’s response to rising tensions. The Prime Minister’s words echoed the gravity of an assault that targeted worshippers during their most sacred observance.
Sir Keir directly addressed the Jewish community, saying: “To every Jewish person in this country, I know how much fear you will be holding inside of you.” He expressed both solidarity and sadness that Jewish citizens “still have to live with these fears,” adding emphatically: “Nobody should have to do that.”
Promise of Enhanced Security
The Prime Minister outlined immediate security measures, promising “a more visible police presence” to protect Jewish communities across the country. This commitment came as he acknowledged the sobering reality that synagogues and Jewish schools require constant protection against antisemitic threats.
“I promise you that I will do everything in my power to guarantee you the security that you deserve,” Sir Keir told the Jewish community, signalling a comprehensive government response to the escalating threat level.
Speaking to reporters on the tarmac at Copenhagen Airport before his early departure, the Prime Minister confirmed that extra police resources were being deployed to synagogues nationwide. This rapid mobilisation demonstrates the government’s recognition of the potential for copycat attacks or further antisemitic violence.
Call for National Unity
Beyond security measures, Sir Keir painted a vision of national solidarity in response to the attack. “I promise you that over the coming days, you will see the other Britain, the Britain of compassion, of decency, of love,” he told the Jewish community.
The Prime Minister’s pledge that Britain would “come together to wrap our arms around your community” represents an attempt to counter the fear and isolation that terrorist attacks are designed to create. He emphasised that Britain is “a place where you and your family are safe, secure and belong.”
This message of inclusion and protection stands in stark contrast to the hatred displayed in the Manchester attack, positioning the government’s response as both a security operation and a moral imperative for national unity.
International Response
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement shortly after Sir Keir’s address, expressing Israel’s grief and solidarity. “Israel grieves with the Jewish community in the UK after the barbaric terror attack in Manchester,” Netanyahu stated. “Our hearts are with the families of the murdered, and we pray for the swift recovery of the wounded.”
Netanyahu also used the moment to reiterate his recent United Nations warning about terrorism, stating: “As I warned at the UN: weakness in the face of terrorism only brings more terrorism. Only strength and unity can defeat it.”
The Israeli leader’s response underscores the international dimension of the attack, with Jewish communities worldwide watching how Britain responds to this act of antisemitic terrorism.
Rising Antisemitism Crisis
Sir Keir’s acknowledgement that antisemitic hatred is “rising once again” reflects alarming statistics from community security organisations. The Community Security Trust has reported record levels of antisemitic incidents in Britain, with more than 1,500 recorded in the first half of 2025 alone.
The Prime Minister’s historical framing – that Britain must defeat this hatred “once again” – evokes the country’s stand against fascism and antisemitism during the Second World War, positioning the current struggle as part of a longer historical narrative of British resistance to hatred.
Taking to social media platform X following his statement, Sir Keir reiterated: “Antisemitism is a hatred that is rising, once again. Britain must defeat it, once again.” The repetition of this phrase suggests a deliberate attempt to frame the government’s response as part of Britain’s historical duty.
Security Challenges
The attack has exposed the vulnerability of religious communities during major observances. Yom Kippur traditionally sees synagogues at their fullest, with even less observant Jews attending services on this holiest day. This makes such gatherings obvious targets for those seeking to maximise casualties and terror.
The requirement for round-the-clock protection at Jewish institutions represents a significant security burden and a troubling indicator of the threat level. The Prime Minister’s acknowledgement of this reality marks a departure from previous, more optimistic assessments of community relations in Britain.
Security experts note that the swift police response in Manchester, with the attacker neutralised within minutes, likely prevented far greater casualties. However, the incident raises questions about whether current security measures are sufficient given the elevated threat level.
Political Response
The Prime Minister’s decision to leave the Copenhagen summit early and immediately convene a Cobra meeting signals the seriousness with which the government is treating this attack. Cobra meetings are reserved for national emergencies and major terrorist incidents, bringing together senior ministers, security officials, and police leadership.
Opposition leaders have also condemned the attack, with cross-party unity emerging in support of the Jewish community. However, questions are likely to arise about whether sufficient resources have been allocated to protecting vulnerable communities and whether intelligence failures allowed the attack to occur.
The government faces pressure to demonstrate that its promises of enhanced security will translate into concrete, long-term protection for Jewish institutions. Previous attacks on religious minorities have led to temporary increases in security that later diminished as public attention moved elsewhere.
Community Impact
For Britain’s Jewish community, estimated at around 290,000 people, the attack represents their worst fears realised. Many Jewish leaders have warned for months about rising antisemitism, particularly since the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel and the subsequent war in Gaza.
The targeting of worshippers on Yom Kippur adds a particularly painful dimension to the attack. The Day of Atonement is meant to be a time of reflection, repentance, and spiritual renewal. Instead, it has become forever marked by violence and loss for the Manchester Jewish community.
Rabbi Walker, who heroically barricaded congregants inside the synagogue during the attack, preventing the terrorist from entering, has been praised for saving countless lives. His quick thinking exemplifies the tragic reality that religious leaders must now be prepared for such scenarios.
Broader Context
The Manchester attack occurs against a backdrop of rising extremism across Europe. Jewish communities in France, Belgium, and Germany have also faced increased threats and attacks in recent years, leading to enhanced security measures and, in some cases, emigration to Israel or other countries.
Sir Keir’s promise that Britain will show its Jewish community they “belong” here appears designed to counter any sentiment that Jews might need to leave Britain for their safety. This message is crucial given reports of some Jewish families considering emigration due to antisemitism.
The attack also comes amid ongoing tensions over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which has led to increased polarisation and, in some cases, the targeting of diaspora Jewish communities for the actions of the Israeli government – a form of antisemitism condemned by anti-racism organisations.
Moving Forward
As Manchester’s Jewish community mourns its dead and prays for the recovery of the injured, the Prime Minister’s words will be measured against the government’s actions in the coming days and weeks. The promise of visible police protection must be sustained beyond the immediate aftermath of the attack.
The broader challenge of defeating rising antisemitism will require more than security measures. It will demand education, community engagement, and a sustained commitment to challenging hatred wherever it emerges, whether on university campuses, in political discourse, or on social media platforms.
Sir Keir’s framing of this as a national struggle – one that requires all of Britain to unite against hatred – suggests a recognition that security measures alone cannot solve the underlying problem. The promise that Britain will show its “compassion, decency, and love” in the coming days will be tested as the nation grapples with this latest act of terrorism.
International Solidarity
As news of the attack reverberates globally, Jewish communities worldwide are watching Britain’s response closely. The country’s ability to protect its Jewish citizens and defeat rising antisemitism will be seen as a test case for Western democracies facing similar challenges.
The Prime Minister’s decisive response, combining immediate security measures with longer-term commitments to fighting hatred, represents an attempt to provide both practical protection and moral leadership. Whether these promises translate into lasting change remains to be seen.
For now, as the Jewish community observes the remainder of Yom Kippur under the shadow of tragedy, the nation faces a moment of reckoning about the kind of society it wants to be and the lengths it will go to protect all its citizens from hatred and violence.
Follow for more updates on Britannia Daily
Image Credit:
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer — image from Wikimedia Commons (election infobox), licensed under CC BY 4.0
