Revealed: Islamist terrorist, 35, who SLAUGHTERED two innocent men in Yom Kippur HORROR grew up steps away from a Manchester synagogue — neighbors recall a “quiet boy” who became a KILLER

The Islamist extremist behind the Yom Kippur massacre that left two innocent men dead has been identified as a 35-year-old British-born man who shockingly grew up just around the corner from a synagogue in Manchester.

The attacker, whose name has been released by police, launched the brutal assault during the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. Armed with a knife and shouting extremist slogans, he struck without warning, leaving worshippers and passersby scrambling for safety in scenes described as “pure terror.”

The two victims — both men in their 40s — were reportedly on their way home from synagogue prayers when they were targeted. Eyewitnesses described how the attacker “moved with chilling precision,” stabbing them repeatedly before being overpowered and arrested by armed officers.

What has stunned the local community most is the revelation that the killer grew up just a few streets away from the very synagogue that was placed on high alert in the wake of the bloodshed.

A Quiet Childhood Turned Dark

Residents of the neighborhood remember the attacker as a boy who rarely drew attention. One elderly neighbor, who has lived on the street for over 40 years, said:
“He was just another kid playing football in the road. His parents kept to themselves, very polite people. Nobody could ever have imagined he would become this monster.”

But friends from his teenage years recall the first signs of radicalization. According to one former classmate, he began withdrawing in his late teens and openly discussed extremist ideologies. “It was like he was living in another world. He stopped coming to parties, stopped talking about football — all he wanted to talk about was religion and war,” the classmate said.

By his mid-20s, authorities believe he had begun associating with extremist preachers. Though details remain under investigation, police sources confirmed that he was previously on the radar of counterterrorism officers but was not deemed an immediate threat.

Horror on a Holy Day

The attack itself has shaken Manchester’s Jewish community to its core. Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, is traditionally marked by prayer, fasting, and reflection. Instead, it became the backdrop for a scene of unimaginable violence.

“People were screaming, children crying, running in every direction,” recalled one witness. “It was supposed to be a sacred day. Instead, it turned into a nightmare.”

Security forces responded within minutes, with armed police swarming the area. The suspect was shot with a stun device before being restrained and taken into custody. Authorities have since confirmed the attack is being treated as an act of terrorism.

Political and Community Outrage

Leaders across the UK expressed outrage at the killings. The Home Secretary called it “a vile act of hatred against innocent people,” while the Prime Minister vowed to provide “every protection necessary for our Jewish community.”

Local Jewish leaders, while shaken, emphasized the importance of unity. Rabbi David Klein, who leads the nearby synagogue, said: “We will not be intimidated. We will mourn, we will heal, and we will continue to live proudly as Jews in Manchester.”

A Grim Warning

The fact that the terrorist grew up so close to the very community he would one day terrorize has left many asking how someone can live side by side with neighbors for decades before committing such horror.

“It’s frightening,” one resident admitted. “To think he was planning this while walking the same streets as us — it chills you to the bone.”

Counterterrorism officers are now combing through his digital history, searching for possible accomplices and any evidence of overseas connections. Early reports suggest he may have been in communication with radical networks abroad, though investigators caution it is too early to confirm.

For the families of the victims, however, such answers will come too late. Two men left for synagogue prayers on Yom Kippur — and never came home.

As tributes and flowers pile up at the scene, the wider city of Manchester is grappling with a grim reminder: even in familiar neighborhoods, in streets lined with family homes and corner shops, extremism can grow quietly in the shadows — until it erupts into unthinkable violence.