The government of the United Kingdom (UK) has announced that: “flags will be flown at half mast on UK government buildings until 20:00 today.” The announcement comes after an Islamic terror attack on Jews in Manchester yesterday that claimed lives and left several people injured. The attack came on Yom Kippur, an important Jewish religious holiday.

The attacker had rammed a car into Jewish worshippers outside a synagogue and then got out with a knife and continued the attack. Both methods of attack are common to those launched by terror groups against Jews in Israel.

Seven minutes after the attack began, the attacker was shot dead by responding officers. Two other suspects were subsequently arrested.

Greater Manchester Police said: “This has been officially declared as a terrorist incident, and the investigation is now being led by Counter Terrorism Police…we believe that the identity of the offender has been established.”

According to the police: “There were a large number of worshippers attending the synagogue at the time of this attack, but thanks to the immediate bravery of security staff and worshippers inside, and the fast response of the police, the attacker was prevented from gaining access. All those inside were safely contained until police were able to confirm that it was safe to leave the premises…Yom Kippur is a day where we see our Jewish community attending their places of worship – places where they and their families should feel entirely safe from harm.”

Earlier today, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the attack, saying: “This was a vile terrorist attack that attacked Jews, because they are Jews. Antisemitism is a hatred that is rising once again. Britain must defeat it once again. To every Jewish person in this country, I promise that I will do everything in my power to guarantee you the security you deserve.”

Sources who spoke to The Common Sense were sceptical of that promise. They argue that unbridled immigration without cultural assimilation, the turning of a blind eye to both Islamic radicalisation and intimidation towards Jews and Westerners within the UK, and the UK government’s policies towards Israel that stigmatise Jews, have created the very situation where terror attacks are likely to occur.