King Charles has paid tribute to the victims of the Manchester synagogue terror attack, saying the memory of those affected remains vividly in his mind.
A memorial service was held at the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation in Crumpsall on Monday evening to remember Melvin Cravitz and Adrian Daulby, who lost their lives in the tragedy.
Vice Lord-Lieutenant of Greater Manchester Eamonn O'Neal read out a personal message to the congregation on behalf of the King during the service. In the statement, the King said that he and his wife hold all those whose lives were so tragically disrupted by that terrible day most closely in their thoughts and prayers.
The King noted that although the months have passed, the sense of shock and sorrow remains undiminished following the attack on October 2. He recalled his visit to the synagogue shortly after the tragedy, describing it as a deeply moving and heartbreaking experience.
King Charles expressed how profoundly moving and troubling it was to meet those who had been present that morning and to hear their personal accounts of what they had experienced. He added that the memory of those who died and were injured remains especially vivid in his mind.
The King praised the strength, resilience, and determination shown in the aftermath of such trauma, stating it left an indelible impression upon him. He also recalled his conversations with members of the Jewish community whom he met in the street as he departed.
Concluding his message, the King gave thanks for the spirit of unity, compassion, and support that shone brightly in those dark days while remembering all who suffered injury, grief, and hardship. As British monarch, the King regularly sends official messages of condolence and support to communities recovering from major national incidents and acts of violence.
Details of the Yom Kippur Terror Attack
The attack took place on October 2 during Yom Kippur, which is the holiest day of the year for Jewish people. Attacker Jihad Al-Shamie, 35, drove a vehicle into the gates of the synagogue building before attacking worshippers with a knife while wearing a fake suicide belt.
Al-Shamie was a Syrian-born British citizen who was on bail for an alleged rape when he carried out the assault. Police officers fired on the scene and shot him dead during the incident.
The Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation is a major synagogue in Crumpsall, a suburb in the north of Manchester. Synagogues serve as central houses of prayer and community assembly in Judaism, and Yom Kippur is observed as the solemn Day of Atonement through prayer and fasting.
Two worshippers died as a result of the attack at the synagogue. Melvin Cravitz, 66, a resident of Crumpsall, died from knife wounds inflicted by Al-Shamie during the violence.
Adrian Daulby, 53, suffered a fatal bullet wound fired from a police gun as armed officers responded to the ongoing terrorist threat.
Three other men were taken to hospital with serious injuries following the attack. All three were later released after receiving treatment.
Tributes and Statements from Community Leaders
Addressing the assembled congregation on Monday night, Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis stated that those inside the synagogue had witnessed a hate crime of the worst kind.
Sir Ephraim said the attack was encouraged and inspired by thoughts, speech, statements, policies, declarations, and the demonisation of the state of Israel, which extended to the demonisation of all Jewish people.
The Chief Rabbi extended heartfelt condolences to the Cravitz and Daulby families while mourning two exceptionally good and pious people who forever shall be kadoshim. He said Melvin and Adrian will be remembered not only for how they died, but also for how they lived pious lives of kindness, chesed, and selflessness for others.
The Chief Rabbi acts as the spiritual leader for Orthodox Jewish congregations across the Commonwealth. In Hebrew, the term kadoshim honours holy martyrs, while chesed refers to acts of selfless charity and loving-kindness.
Survivor and Ministerial Responses
Yoni Finlay, a survivor who was hit by a police bullet during the attack, told the service that his life changed forever on Yom Kippur last year. He said that despite facing difficult days, he has met many inspirational people in the past year who inspire him every day to keep going.
Mr Finlay stated that while everyone is different now than before Yom Kippur, he likes to think they are also better people. He thanked everyone gathered at the synagogue, adding that an evil person tried to destroy them on Yom Kippur and together they have not let that evil win, asserting that evil will never succeed because of who they are and what they do.
Communities Secretary Angela Rayner spoke at the memorial, describing Mr Cravitz and Mr Daulby as two men of immense kindness killed in an act of antisemitic hate. She stated that any attack on Jews is an attack on everyone.
Rayner said the horror that occurred in a place of prayer on the holiest day of the year is a moment no one should ever forget. She added that memories of the two men will forever live on and vowed that society will never rest until every Jewish person is safe.
The Communities Secretary is the Cabinet minister in the UK government responsible for overseeing housing, local government, and community relations, including measures to combat hate crimes.
Greater Manchester Police Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson said the terrorist atrocity has fixed itself to a growing litany of antisemitic hatred and has cruelly added to a further erosion of the sense of security and wellbeing that all Jewish people are entitled to in the UK.
Sir Stephen acknowledged that Greater Manchester Police is not infallible, but stated that no one should doubt their anxiety to give their very best in all circumstances and their fierce determination to stand in defence of families and the wider Jewish community across Greater Manchester and beyond.
