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Manchester hero rabbi underwent Israeli security training

miriw — Sun, 05 Oct 2025 07:00:58 +0000

Rabbi Daniel Walker from Manchester, who blocked the terrorist from entering his synagogue on Yom Kippur, underwent security training through an Israeli government initiative. Thanks to the rabbi's actions, an even greater disaster was prevented in the attack where two Jewish community members were murdered and four others were wounded.

Israel Hayom has learned that the rabbi underwent training in a program for rabbis dealing with terror attacks, conducted by the Community Security Trust (CST), the security organization of Jewish communities in Britain. The training content is provided by the security establishment with funding from the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs. The program includes practical exercises and study days for theoretical knowledge acquisition. One method taught is closing doors against attackers to prevent escalation of the attack, exactly as Rabbi Walker performed.

Plants lie on the ground by the doors to the Manchester synagogue, after multiple people were killed on Yom Kippur, in what police have declared a terrorist incident, in north Manchester, Britain, October 5, 2025 (Photo: Reuters/Hannah McKay) REUTERS

In an interview with Britain's ITV channel, Walker described the dramatic moments when the terrorist crashed into the synagogue door repeatedly trying to enter, while waving a knife and shouting, "I'm going to get you, I'm coming in." The rabbi and other worshippers held the door with their bodies, while Adrian Dolby, one of those killed, "defended the synagogue with his life" and was accidentally shot by police forces.

In the attack at Heaton Park synagogue in the Crumpsall neighborhood, two Jews were killed: Adrian Dolby, 53, and Melvin Kravitz, 66, both Crumpsall residents. Four others were wounded, three seriously.

Floral tributes are left at the police cordon near the scene of Thursday's terror attack at the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue on October 04, 2025 in Manchester, England (Photo: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images) Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

"When I arrived at the synagogue, there was some incident near the gate. Someone was behaving suspiciously and aggressively, and the security guards and volunteers were trying to deal with it," Walker recounted. "We thought it was a minor disturbance. I entered the synagogue, and prayers began. Half an hour later, I heard a huge explosion from outside and screams. People ran in asking to close the back doors. I ran to the front and then someone tried to enter while waving a knife."

According to the rabbi, several men held the doors while the terrorist tried to break in. "He tried using the knife to penetrate through the door, threw planters, crashed into the door repeatedly with his body." Walker spoke about four wounded who blocked the terrorist with their bodies: "Johnny and Andrew, the community volunteer who blocked the terrorist at the gate with his body, and was seriously wounded. Also, Bernard, the security guard, was run over, and they're all hospitalized. And we know Melvin was killed at the gate."

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Stolen bust of Israeli president beheaded in Manchester

miriw — Tue, 05 Nov 2024 16:30:52 +0000

Two busts of Chaim Weizmann, Israel's first president, were stolen and subsequently damaged at the University of Manchester in what began as a burglary investigation and has escalated into an act of politically motivated vandalism, according to police and social media posts from the perpetrators.

Vile hate on campus: Sculptures of Chaim Weizmann stolen from the University of Manchester by the Palestine Action Group pic.twitter.com/ky8rg6jUGS

— Adam Milstein (@AdamMilstein) November 3, 2024

The incident began shortly before midnight when surveillance footage captured two masked individuals breaking into the university's chemistry building and smashing a glass display case to remove the busts of Weizmann, who had served as a chemistry lecturer at the institution before becoming Israel's first president in 1948. Greater Manchester Police confirmed that they "received a report of a burglary at a university building on Oxford Road, Manchester" that took place the previous night.

Weizmann is now under Palestine Action's control pic.twitter.com/ebg2LoYnK7

— Palestine Action (@Pal_action) November 3, 2024

The Palestine Action group claimed responsibility for what they termed an "abduction" of the busts, timing their action to coincide with the anniversary of the Balfour Declaration of November 2, 1917. The declaration, issued by British Foreign Secretary Arthur Balfour, supported establishing a "national home for Jewish people" in then-Palestine. According to the Palestine Action, they targeted the busts because of Weizmann's role in "securing the Balfour Declaration," which they describe as "a British pledge written 107 years ago, which began the ethnic cleansing of Palestine by signing the land away."

First bust of Weizmann is dead. Soon, his zionist project will be too! pic.twitter.com/CZcTX1MIu5

— Palestine Action (@Pal_action) November 5, 2024

Palestine Action has since posted images showing the busts draped in keffiyehs with the caption, "Weizmann is now under Palestine Action's control." In a subsequent post, the group shared an image of one of the busts with its head removed, declaring, "First bust of Weizmann is dead. Soon, his zionist project will be too!"

Portrait of First President of Israel Dr. Chaim Weizmann (Archives: AP) AP

Andy Burnham, Greater Manchester Mayor, responded to the incident on X: "I will ask Greater Manchester Police to ensure that there is the fullest possible investigation into this appalling act of vandalism and that those responsible are held to account." He added his commitment to supporting the University of Manchester in "reassuring all students and staff, particularly those from the Jewish community, of their safety on campus."

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'Pills N Potions' went too far? Nicki Minaj arrested in Amsterdam on suspicion of possessing drugs

adin — Sun, 26 May 2024 03:42:40 +0000

In a shocking turn of events, American rapper Nicki Minaj found herself embroiled in legal troubles just hours before her scheduled concert in Manchester, England. According to authorities, Minaj, whose real name is Onika Tanya Maraj-Petty, was arrested on suspicion of drug possession at Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport while en route to the UK for her "Pink Friday 2 World Tour."

They've been trying everything they possibly can to TRY to stop this tour

— Nicki Minaj (@NICKIMINAJ) May 25, 2024

The 41-year-old artist was taken into custody by Dutch police but released after a few hours, having been fined for the alleged offense. In a statement shared on the social media platform X, law enforcement officials confirmed that an "American woman" had been apprehended for "possession of soft drugs" before being allowed to "continue her journey."

pic.twitter.com/h9UrZM9Abm

— Nicki Minaj (@NICKIMINAJ) May 25, 2024

Despite Minaj's best efforts to salvage the situation, the promoter, Live Nation UK, was forced to postpone the Manchester show at the Co-op Live arena. "We are deeply disappointed by the inconvenience this has caused," the company said in an update, assuring that tickets would remain valid for the rescheduled concert.

In a candid social media post early Sunday, Minaj shared her side of the story, expressing her sincere apologies to fans. "After sitting in a jail cell for 5-6 hours, my plane still didn't take off for another 20 mins once I boarded" the 50-minute flight from Amsterdam, she wrote.

now they said they found weed & that another group of ppl have to come here to weigh the pre-rolls. Keep in mind they took my bags without consent. My security has already advised them those pre-rolls belong to him. Oh yea & the pilot wants me to take my ig post down.

— Nicki Minaj (@NICKIMINAJ) May 25, 2024

Minaj, known for her outspoken nature, hinted at a potential conspiracy, stating, "They sure did know exactly how to hurt me today, but this too, shall pass." She also vowed to create "an added bonus" for ticket holders affected by the postponement.

Throughout the ordeal, the "Starships" rapper documented the events on social media, sharing videos of her interactions with authorities at the airport. In one clip, she questioned the decision to search her luggage after it had already been loaded onto the plane. In response, her dedicated fans rallied behind her, sparking the hashtag #freenicki to trend across social media platforms.

Minaj also alleged that certain individuals were trying to "sabotage" her successful tour, accusing them of planting evidence in her luggage and stealing money from her travel expenses. "This is how they plant things in your luggage," she wrote in one post, promising to provide video evidence and involve lawyers.

Despite the controversy, Minaj reassured fans that she would still perform at the remaining scheduled shows in Manchester on Thursday and Birmingham on Sunday. She expressed her determination to reschedule the missed Manchester concert, considering potential dates in June and July.

As the situation unfolds, Minaj's supporters eagerly await further updates, hoping for a smooth continuation of her highly anticipated world tour.

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UK counterterrorism police investigate Manchester stabbings

website — Mon, 31 Dec 2018 22:00:00 +0000

British counterterrorism police are investigating stabbings at Manchester Victoria train station that left three people injured, including a police officer, on New Year's Eve, the Greater Manchester Police said.

Police were, however, keeping an open mind as there was no intelligence suggesting a wider threat, the Greater Manchester Police said in a statement posted on Twitter. They said a man is in custody and those injured were in a "serious" but not life-threatening condition.

The stabbings occurred at about 8:50 p.m.

"Tonight's events will have understandably worried people but I need to stress that the incident is not ongoing, a man is in custody and there is currently no intelligence to suggest there is any wider threat at this time," Assistant Chief Constable Rob Potts said in a statement.

Police said the man in custody is being held for "questioning on suspicion of attempted murder."

Britain is currently on its second-highest threat level of severe, meaning an attack is considered highly likely and security officials say they are facing record levels of work in countering Islamist militants as well as far-right extremists after four major attacks last year.

Manchester itself was the scene of a suicide bomb attack in May 2017 that killed 22 people as they left an Ariana Grande concert.

Meanwhile, a car plowed into crowds celebrating New Year's Day early on Tuesday in a suspected terrorist attack, leaving eight people injured, including one seriously.

A police spokesman said one suspect, in his 20s, had been detained and that he had described the incident as an "act of terror." The spokesman declined to elaborate.

The incident happened shortly after midnight local time on Monday in a popular tourist area of Harajuku, near Meiji Shrine, in central Tokyo.

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