Today in Focus ‘This is what we’ve been afraid of’: British Jews after the Manchester attack
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Oct 8, 2025 Abigail Radnor, Guardian lifestyle editor from South Manchester, shares her personal grief and shock over the Heaton Park synagogue attack, detailing its impact on local families. Dave Rich, Director of Policy at the Community Security Trust, highlights the rising trend of antisemitism and the emotional toll of security measures within the Jewish community. They discuss anger towards authorities, the challenges of balancing protests on Gaza with community safety, and the urgent need for solutions that enable Jews to live without fear.
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Moment The Threat Became Real
- Abigail Radnor described preparing for Yom Kippur when she heard her husband say there had been a terrorist attack at Heaton Park synagogue.
- She sat on the bed and cried, saying “this nightmare that we have been dreading has become real.”
'When Not If' Mentality
- Abigail said Jews have feared such an attack for years and many felt it was a matter of 'when' not 'if'.
- She described feeling shattered and unable to fathom members of her community being killed and seriously injured.
Worrying About Children’s Nightmares
- Abigail recounted driving her children to their Jewish primary school with a heavy police presence and fearing what questions they'd ask.
- She worried her seven-year-old might learn someone was killed for being Jewish on a day she would have gone to synagogue.
