Thousands Attend London Vigil Marking Manchester Synagogue Terror Attack Anniversary

In the wake of the October 7 attacks and the killing of two people at a synagogue in Manchester on Yom Kippur, vigils were held in London and Manchester to remember the victims and stand against antisemitism. Thousands gathered in Trafalgar Square and outside the Heaton Park synagogue to honor the lives of Adrian Daulby and Melvin Cravitz, who were killed in a jihadist car and knife attack, with speakers emphasizing community resilience and condemning the violence. Attendees, including politicians and faith leaders, called for unity and expressed the need to combat rising antisemitism, while survivors and neighbors remembered the victims as beloved members of their communities. The Jewish Leadership Council highlighted the deadly nature of current antisemitism, and participants stressed the importance of not conflating the actions of Israel with Jewish people worldwide. Despite the fear and grief, community members voiced a determination to continue living together peacefully and to support one another in the face of hatred. These gatherings serve as both memorials and affirmations of tolerance amid heightened tensions following the attacks.