(New York, N.Y.) — Today, on Yom Kippur—the holiest day in the Jewish calendar—a Synagogue in Manchester, England has become the scene of a devastating and unprecedented act of antisemitic terrorism. Two have been killed and four others seriously injured in an attack that marks the first time a synagogue in the UK has been targeted in this way. Counter Extremism Project (CEP) CEO Mark D. Wallace said:

“Today’s attack is a terrible milestone for a country that has, for generations, been a sanctuary for Jewish life and Jews fleeing persecution in Europe. That legacy is in jeopardy today. Our hearts and prayers go out to the victims and their families.

“This tragedy does not arise in a vacuum. Since October 7, 2023, the worst day in Israel’s history since the holocaust, the climate of antisemitism in the UK has grown increasingly hostile, stoked by extremist rhetoric and hate-laced slogans at marches that purport to support international causes but far too often cross into incitement against British Jews.

“What happened today is horrifying but sadly not entirely surprising. It is the result of warnings unheeded and hatred left unchecked.

“British Jews, who number just 300,000, must not be left to feel isolated and insecure. We call on leaders at every level and across all communities—political, civic, and religious—to confront this moment with honesty. Equivocation and false equivalence are not acceptable. The right of Jews to worship freely and live in safety must be unequivocally defended.

“May the memories of those lost be a blessing.”