Police have deployed additional officers around synagogues and Jewish communities in London after two people were killed in Manchester on the holiest day of the Jewish calendar.
A man was shot dead by armed police after a car was driven at pedestrians and a person was stabbed outside Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in Crumpsall on Thursday morning.
The Metropolitan Police said there was no indication of an increased threat to the capital but had taken precautionary measures, thought to be in areas such as Golders Green.
“While there is nothing to suggest an increased threat to London, we have deployed additional resources to the areas around synagogues, other Jewish community venues and in those boroughs with significant Jewish populations,” the force added on X.
Councillor Adam Hug, leader of Westminster City Council, said: “This attack on one of the holiest days in the Jewish calendar has sent shockwaves across the country.
“As home to one of London’s oldest Jewish communities, we offer our renewed support to synagogues and congregations in Westminster.
I’m horrified by the violent attack at a synagogue in Manchester.
— Sadiq Khan (@SadiqKhan) October 2, 2025
I have been in contact with the Mayor of Greater Manchester and the Home Secretary, and would like to reassure Londoners that the Met Police are stepping up patrols in Jewish communities and synagogues across…
“We are aware that many Jewish people in London will have links to Manchester and will be deeply concerned at events.
“Different communities have always thrived side by side in the city and good community relations are at the heart of what we do as a city.
“The Prime Minister has already said police reinforcements are being sent to ensure Jewish people can visit synagogues in safety across the country.
“Westminster City Council stands by its Jewish community and we will offer whatever help is needed.”
Nick Aldworth, a former national coordinator for counter-terrorism policing, said he is “not surprised” about the attack at the synagogue on Yom Kippur, because holy days “bring an additional element of concern”.
He told BBC Radio 4: “I’m not surprised that it’s happened. Yesterday, when I was driving home, there was a feature on Radio 4, which mentioned that today was Yom Kippur – I’d forgotten. My immediate thought was ‘oh, gosh, I hope nothing awful happens’.
“And the reason I say that is because, for years, we’ve recognised that high holy days bring an additional element of concern to the Jewish community and to those of us who have been tasked with protecting those communities.
“And certainly in London I used to be responsible for a massive operation, probably the second biggest operation to New Year’s or Notting Hill Carnival, to actually protect those communities across the high holy day period.
“So I know the same is reflected in Manchester, which may well account for why there’s been such a quick response up there today. But no, I’m not surprised.”
He added that, while the UK’s threat level is currently at “substantial”, meaning an attack is likely, in fact “we often see sectors of our communities being at higher threat levels, and quite often the Jewish community sits at a higher threat level than substantial”.
