LONDON: On October 2, the city of Manchester in the United Kingdom and its Jewish community witnessed a deadliest terror attack. More devastating fact is that, the Jewish community was targeted on their holiest day of Yom Kippur. Around 9:30AM local time, on the holiest day as per the Jewish calendar, a large crowd was gathered at the Synagogue(place of worship, a sacred shrine of the Jews). Suddenly a car appeared on the scene with a loud bang. Initially, Jewish devotees considered it as a sound of the fireworks.
Within seconds, the car crashed the gates of the Synagogue. The man immediately stepped out of the car and began to stab everyone near him. As an impact of his atrocities, two people were killed and three more were injured. This seven minutes horror is a testament to the spiking terror misadventures across the globe. The terrorists are deliberately and in a much calibrated posture attacking religious minorities, innocent civilians, to fulfill their illicit religious motives.
Police takes control of the situation and the suspect is dead
Within few minutes of terrorist unleashing his attack on the Jewish people, the Greater Manchester Police received a phone call, informing about the attack in the Synagogue. Police rushed to the location and immediately shot down the suspect. Meanwhile, the terrorist also tried to enter into the Synagogue building and courtyard, however, the gathered people and security forces stopped him from entering. Reports also claim that the suspect was given several warnings before firing, however, when situation went out of control, the police opened fire at the suspect and he was dead.
A video circulated on social media, shows armed officers pointing the gun towards a man and later the suspect was lying on the ground in the premises of the Synagogue. The civilians gathered also felt that the terrorist had a bomb in his pocket and he was about to blast it. Thus, the people urged the police to quickly kill him. The police also insisted the people to avoid their movement in the vicinity of the place where the horrific terror took place.
The Greater Manchester Police identified the terror suspect as Jihad Al-Shamie, a 35-year old British Citizen with Syrian descent. It is said that he came to the United Kingdom as a young child, and was granted British citizenship in 2006, as a minor. The real intention behind the attack by the terror suspect is not yet known, said the Police. The security officials also reiterated that three more people including a women in her 60s has been arrested on suspicion for committing acts of terrorism.
UK Prime Minister assures security, PM Modi condemns the attack
Following the tragic terror attack, the Prime Minister of United Kingdom Kier Starmer chaired an emergency security meeting. He strongly condemned the attack on the Jewish community and promised for the security of the Jewish population in the country.
The British Monarchy as well expressed grief and condolence for the tragedy and expressed solidarity for the Jewish people. Meanwhile, a member of the Jewish community said, “This is an extremely tolerant community, where people of many faiths, including Jews and Muslims, have lived side by side for years, and I am stunned by what has taken place”. The Maidenhead of the Synagogue described the tragedy as the “worst nightmare for every Jewish on the most sacred day in the Jewish calendar”.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has severely condemned the attack in Manchester. “Pained by the attack in Manchester. We strongly condemn it. Our thoughts are with the families of the deceased and prayers with the injured.”, the Prime Minister said.
Pained by the attack in Manchester. We strongly condemn it. Our thoughts are with the families of the deceased & prayers with the injured.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 23, 2017
The Ministry of External Affairs in India also criticized the terror attack on the holy day of Yom Kippur and asserted about the global challenges posed by the evil forces of terrorism. “It is particularly saddening that this heinous act was committed on the International Day of Non-Violence. This attack is another grim reminder of the challenge we face from the evil forces of terrorism, which the global community must combat and defeat through united and concerted action”, said the statement from MEA.
The Jewish Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu has also condemned the attack, expressed prayers and solidarity for the victims and said, “Weakness in the face of terrorism only brings more terrorism”.
