Sacha Baron Cohen has condemned the terrorist attack on a Manchester synagogue as ‘part of the biggest surge in hatred of Jews since the Nazis’.
The North London-born actor and comedian, who is Jewish, voiced his concern to his 1.2million followers on Instagram just days after Islamist terrorist Jihad Al-Shamie, 35, targeted Heaton Park Synagogue in Manchester on Thursday.
Adrian Daulby, 53, and Melvin Cravitz, 66, both members of Manchester’s Jewish community, were killed during the murderous rampage, which coincided with Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. Another three people remain in hospital.
In an update last night, police said six people are now in custody on suspicion of planning a terrorist attack – comprising three men and three women aged between 18 and 60.
Taking to Instagram to share his thoughts, Baron Cohen said the attack had occurred amid rising levels of antisemitism and warned it was ‘not a one-off’ – as antisemitism advocates said today that ‘extremism and incitement have been allowed to grow’ in the UK.
According to Community Security Trust (CST), which monitors antisemitism rates in the UK, there were 1,521 antisemitic incidents between January to June 2025 – the second-highest total of anti-Jewish hate incidents ever recorded by CST in the first half of any year.
The largest number ever recorded came in the first six months of 2024, which saw 2,019 antisemitic incidents reported in the aftermath of the October 7 Hamas terror attack on Israel.
Baron Cohen wrote: ‘The murder of Jews at a Manchester synagogue is not a one-off. It’s part of the biggest surge in hatred of Jews since the Nazis.’
Sacha Baron Cohen has condemned the terrorist attack on a Manchester synagogue as ‘part of the biggest surge in hatred of Jews since the Nazis’
Taking to Instagram to share his thoughts, Baron Cohen said the attack had occurred amid rising levels of antisemitism and warned it was ‘not a one-off’
The 53-year-old, best known for his comedic alter-egos Borat and Ali G, added: ‘No one should have to risk their lives to pray.’
His comments came as Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy was booed and heckled by mourners at last night’s vigil for the victims of the synagogue terror attack.
In astonishing scenes, the Deputy Prime Minister was told by furious members of Manchester’s Jewish community that he had ‘blood on his hands’.
Amid chants of ‘shame on you’, Mr Lammy was accused of allowing anti-Semitism to grow on the streets, and urged to ‘stop the marches’ by pro-Palestinian groups.
It also emerged yesterday that Al-Shamie was on bail for alleged rape when he carried out the attack, while Greater Manchester Police revealed that one of the attack victims was shot dead by the force’s armed officers.
Another injured worshipper, who remains in a serious condition, additionally suffered a gunshot wound. Both are believed to have been standing behind the synagogue door trying to stop Al-Shamie from gaining entry.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has confirmed they were investigating the use of lethal force by Greater Manchester Police firearms officers.
Ministers will face fresh anger today as a protest in support of banned terror group Palestine Action will go ahead just days after the attack after organisers ignored pleas from the police and Government to call it off.
Baron Cohen’s comments add to a growing number of celebrities who have condemned Thursday’s attack.
JK Rowling told her followers on X in that she feels ‘appalled and ashamed’ that Jewish people in Britain no longer feel safe following yesterday’s terrorist attack on a synagogue. Ms Rowling had retweeted online influencer Laura Marcus, who commented: ‘I wonder how most Brits feel when they hear Jews say they no longer feel safe in the UK?
A forensic officer continues to investigate the scene at Heaton Park synagogue in Crumpsall, Manchester, on Saturday morning
In an update last night, police said six people are now in custody on suspicion of planning a terrorist attack – comprising three men and three women aged between 18 and 60. Pictured: Forensic officers continue their investigation at the scene on Saturday morning
JK Rowling was responding to sentiments shared by online influencer Laura Marcus
Stacey Solomon revealed her ‘heartbreak’ at news of the attack on a synagogue in Manchester
Broadcaster and barrister Rob Rinder’s moving post on the attack to his X followers
TV personality Stacey Solomon revealed that being Jewish felt ‘scary’ and ‘heartbreaking’ in the wake of the attack.
In a statement on Instagram, she wrote: ‘It is heartbreaking to hear of the attack at a synagogue in Manchester on Yom Kippur. My thoughts & prayers are with everyone affected,’ she wrote.
‘I’m also thinking of anyone right now who feels scared for themselves & their loved ones just because of who they are. Being Jewish feels scary & that is heartbreaking.’
Stacey also acknowledged her support for Palestinians in Gaza, adding: ‘It goes without saying, although I’ve said this before, my thoughts are also with the innocent people in Gaza.
‘Being proudly Jewish & being against the horrific attack today does not cancel the other.
‘I realise no matter what I say. Someone somewhere won’t like it. But all I really have to say is that none of this is ok.’
Meanwhile broadcaster and barrister Rob Rinder, 47, whose grandfather fled to Britain after his family was wiped out in the Holocaust, echoed similar calls for solidarity with the UK’s Jewish community.
Melvin Cravitz, 66, (left) and Adrian Daulby, 53 (right) both died during Thursday’s terror attack
The attacker, Jihad al-Shamie, 35, was shot dead by officers at the scene just seven minutes after the first 999 call
The road where the first three arrests took place was cordoned off and put under armed guard
In a tweet, he criticised those who still allowed anti-Semitism to cloud their view on a horrific attack that left two worshippers stabbed to death on Yom Kippur – the most sacred and solemn day in the Jewish calendar.
‘Some still answer this atrocity with ‘what about…”, he said.
He also urged: ‘If you believe in Britain (wherever you’re from & whatever your faith) you must stand with us.
‘Many Jews cannot imagine a future here and history tells us what follows when that happens.’
Amid outrage over the attack, a leading antisemitism advocate said more action was needed to combat the issue.
Dave Rich, director of policy at CST, said incitement has been ‘off the charts’ in mosque sermons since the October 7 attacks.
He claims social media platforms, regulators and politicians had failed to take action to stop the spread of antisemitic messaging.
Mr Rich told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: ‘The levels of anti-Jewish hatred and extremism and incitement have been allowed to grow over the last few years.
Al-Shamie, 35, targeted Heaton Park Synagogue in Manchester on Thursday. It is believed he was a father and is pictured holding a child
‘I think that’s where the outrage should be directed.’
He said the Government, police and regulators needed to ‘step up and do better.’
Mr Rich added: ‘I think you could look at some of the sermons in mosques after October 7, which were really off the charts with the incitement.
‘I think you could look at what goes on on social media every single day.
‘If people knew how much, how many people went online every single day to talk about killing Jews, they’d be absolutely horrified. And social media platforms do less now than they even did in the past to deal with that.
‘I think more broadly, across civil society and across parts of industry, there is an inability to recognise antisemitism or a reluctance to deal with incitement in ways that have just allowed it to grow.
‘I think the anger is directed there and I think a lot of Jewish people will be saying “OK, the sympathy is great, but where’s the action?”‘
