Hundreds of people gathered in Manchester for a rally marking the two-year anniversary of the Hamas attacks on Israel. North West Friends of Israel pressed ahead with the pre-planned event despite safety concerns following a synagogue attack in the city earlier in the week. Crowds gathered outside Manchester Cathedral on Sunday morning, with many waving Israeli flags and some carrying banners calling for the release of hostages, including Alon Ohel, a 24-year-old musician. Police and security staff from the Community Security Trust monitored the gathering.

Two people who died during the attack at the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue were Adrian Daulby, 53, and Melvin Cravitz, 66. Three men remained in hospital after the car-and-knife assault. Jihad Al-Shamie, 35, who was on bail for an alleged rape, was shot dead by police on Thursday as he targeted the place of worship on Yom Kippur. It is understood Daulby was killed by officers while trying to stop Al-Shamie from entering the building, and Cravitz died helping to prevent the attacker from gaining entry.

A banner at the Manchester rally urged resilience, noting that Jews stood proud in the face of terrorism and paying tribute to Adrian and Melvin. The Manchester event came ahead of a similar gathering organised by the Board of Deputies of British Jews in Trafalgar Square, London, later on Sunday, ahead of the second anniversary of the October 7 attacks. The Board of Deputies called for those arrested under the Terrorism Act during protests to be investigated for stirring up racial hatred. Organisers Defend Our Juries said more than 1,000 people attended a mass silent vigil in central London, where the names of Palestinian children killed in the conflict were read out. Security checks would be in place and there would be an enhanced police presence at the London event following the Manchester attack; earlier in the day, almost 500 people were arrested during pro-Palestine protests in Trafalgar Square.