Council leader ‘broken for the Jewish community’ by synagogue attack

A politician working to improve relations between communities of Greater Manchester says she is ‘broken for the Jewish community’ after a fatal synagogue attack.

Police descended on the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue on Middleton Road, Crumpsall, at 9:31am on Thursday morning (October 2).

Members of the public ‘witnessed a car being driven towards several people, and one person had been stabbed’, mayor Andy Burnham said shortly afterwards.

Greater Manchester Police has since confirmed it officers shot the male suspect dead.

Two victims have also passed away, and three others are seriously injured.

Coun Arooj Shah, Oldham council leader and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority’s communities and equalities lead, said there’s ‘no place for hate’ in the city.

“On Yom Kippur, a sacred Jewish holy day, people should have felt peace in Synagogue this morning, not terror,” she said in a statement.
“There is no place for this hate. No emotion justifies inflicting such violence. Hate is never the answer. Violence is never the answer. We must do better.

“I’m thankful for the GMP’s quick response and praying those injured make a full recovery. My thoughts are with everyone across Greater Manchester and the UK affected by this horrific event.

“Solidarity with the Jewish community at this horrific time.”

Coun Shah, herself a Muslim, also told the Local Democracy Reporting Service she is ‘broken for the Jewish community’.

Leading figures across the city have called for unity, led by Crumpsall’s MP, Graham Stringer. He said earlier: “It’s a dreadful attack designed to damage the Jewish community and damage inter-faith and inter-community relationships. I know that Mancunians will come together to make sure that villains like this do not damage our very tolerant city.

“I know the synagogue well and I know the people in the synagogue. I have lived within a stone’s throw of that synagogue for most of my adult life and I think it’s appalling

“I know, like after the Manchester Arena attack, people will come together.”

Manchester council leader Bev Craig added: “We are all horrified by this  shocking and reprehensible attack on members of Manchester’s Jewish community, on their holiest day.

“Our thoughts are with those who have been killed and seriously injured, their loved ones and with everyone who has been affected by this awful incident.

“We have been supporting our local community throughout the morning and offer our full support and love. 

“We will be working with Greater Manchester Police, Greater Manchester Combined Authority and our local communities in the hours ahead to offer support and reassurance. Manchester stands with our Jewish community at this darkest of moments, and will come together as a city.”