Synagogue Attack Details Revealed

What should be a day of hope and happiness for Jewish people everywhere turned horrific on Yom Kippur, the holiest day on the Jewish calendar, when two Jewish worshipers were killed outside a synagogue in Manchester, England, during a car and stabbing attack. Four other victims have been hospitalized. The attacker was quickly neutralized by the police before they could kill anyone else. 

Fox News reports:

At least two victims have died and four were seriously injured after a car and knife terror attack outside a synagogue in Manchester in the United Kingdom on Thursday, authorities said.

The deadly incident came on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar which ends later today, as people gathered at an Orthodox synagogue. The Metropolitan Police in London declared the assault a terrorist attack.

The two deceased victims were members of the Jewish community, police said. The other four victims were hospitalized with a variety of serious injuries. Paramedics arrived at the scene and were seen treating the victims.

There are also reports that the killer had a device that may have been a bomb that could’ve caused a much higher death toll. As the report stated:

Police said the suspect had the appearance of an explosive device on his body and the bomb disposal unit was called to the scene in suburban Manchester.

Video on social media showed police with guns pointed at a person lying on the tarmac beneath a blue Star of David on the brick building.

A bystander could be heard on the video saying the man had a bomb and was trying to push a button. When the man tried to stand up, a gunshot rang out and he fell to the ground, flopped on his back and then rolled onto his side.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer promised more protection for the Jewish community and synagogues, stating he would do “everything in my power to guarantee you the security that you deserve, starting with a more visible police presence.” I appreciate his words, but they would have more weight if he hadn’t just announced that the UK will officially recognize a “State of Palestine.”

As someone who grew up in the Christian faith but carries Jewish heritage, this news hit me like a punch to the gut. We had planned an entirely different show today with a different topic, but obviously, this attack changed things. This was no random act of violence. It was premeditated hate, driven by a poisonous worldview that sees Jewish people as villains. For my family, and countless families like mine, this wasn’t just another headline. It was personal.

That’s not new, of course. Antisemitism has been around for millennia, festering in different forms throughout history. But what makes this wave especially chilling is that it’s no longer confined to the fringes. You can find antisemitic rhetoric bubbling up in universities, on social media, even in the halls of Congress. And it’s not just coming from one political direction – it’s seeping in from both the far Right and the far Left.

All the way back in Genesis 12:3, God told Israel, “I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” When Jews are attacked, our response shouldn’t be silence – it should be solidarity.

The bottom line: This deadly antisemitism has to stop, and Christians cannot be silent. We must stand with Israel and defend her interests.

Today’s Sekulow broadcast included more discussion of this heartbreaking tragedy in Manchester and how antisemitism continues to threaten Jewish people all over the world. We were also joined by U.S. Special Presidential Envoy Ric Grenell to discuss  the government shutdown. We also spoke with my good friend, five-time Grammy-nominated contemporary Christian artist Steve Wiggins (Big Tent Revival) and now the founder of Groundworks Ministries, who shared what his organization is doing to support our ally Israel and to combat antisemitism in the U.S..

Watch the full broadcast below: