King Charles III has sent a message of remembrance and solidarity to the victims of a terror attack at the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation in Manchester, England.
A memorial service was held on Monday evening, where a message from the King was read, paying tribute to those affected by the attack that occurred on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the year for Jews.
"My wife and I hold all those whose lives were so tragically disrupted by that terrible day most closely in our thoughts and prayers," the King's message stated. "Though the months have passed, the sense of shock and sorrow remains undiminished."
The attack, which took place on October 2, saw Jihad Al-Shamie, 35, drive into the gates of the synagogue and attack worshippers with a knife while wearing a fake suicide belt. Al-Shamie, a Syrian-born British citizen, was killed by police gunfire at the scene. He had been on bail for an alleged rape at the time of the attack.
Melvin Cravitz, 66, and Adrian Daulby, 53, were killed in the incident. Cravitz died from knife wounds, while Daulby suffered a fatal wound from a police bullet. Three other men were injured but later released from hospital.
King Charles recalled a visit to the synagogue shortly after the attack, describing it as a "deeply moving and heartbreaking experience" to meet survivors and hear their accounts. He added that the memory of those who died and were injured "remains especially vivid in my mind," and he was struck by the "strength, resilience, and determination" shown by the community in the aftermath.
"Today, as we remember those who so cruelly lost their lives and all who suffered injury, grief, and hardship, we also give thanks for the spirit of unity, compassion, and support, which shone so brightly in those dark days," the King's message concluded.
Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis addressed the congregation, calling the event "a hate crime of the worst kind," inspired by the demonization of Israel and, by extension, Jewish people. He remembered Cravitz and Daulby for their "pious, wonderful lives of kindness."
Yoni Finlay, who was injured in the attack, spoke of how his life changed but expressed gratitude for the inspirational people he has met in the past year. He stated, "An evil person tried to destroy us on Yom Kippur, and together we have not let that evil win."
Communities Secretary Angela Rayner condemned the attack as an act of antisemitic hate, emphasizing that "any attack on Jews is an attack on us all." She pledged that efforts to overcome antisemitism would continue until every Jewish person is safe.
Greater Manchester Police Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson acknowledged the attack as part of a "growing litany of antisemitic hatred" that erodes the sense of security for Jewish people. He assured the community of the police's commitment to their defense.