West Midlands Police organises 'reassurance patrols' in Jewish communities following Manchester synagogue attack
West Midlands Police has increased patrols at synagogues and Jewish sites in the West Midlands in the wake of a suspected terror attack in Manchester.
Worshippers were attacked at the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in Crumpsall on Thursday.
The attack, which is being treated as a 'terrorist incident' by police, took place on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish religious calendar.
Adrian Daulby, 53, and Melvin Cravitz, 66, died after Jihad Al-Shamie drove into a group of people before stabbing a man.
The terrorist was shot dead by police seven minutes after officers were alerted to the attack. Three people remain in hospital with serious injuries.
West Midlands Police has since announced increased unmarked patrols at synagogues and "Jewish sites".
A force spokesperson said: "We remain deeply shocked following yesterday’s tragic incident in Manchester. Our thoughts are with the family, friends and Jewish community at this devastating time.
"Our focus here in the West Midlands is to offer reassurance to the Jewish community so that they feel safe.
"We have increased our patrols at synagogues and Jewish sites and more widely to provide reassurance to all communities affected."
The force said it would encourage people to 'remain vigilant' and to 'be alert, not alarmed'.
The spokesperson added: "We would encourage people to remain vigilant − be alert, not alarmed. As ever, we ask the public to be our eyes and ears. If something doesn’t feel right, call us. We act on every piece of information; no piece of information will be ignored.
"Report anything that doesn’t feel right to police and be alert to what is happening in your own community."
The force said that suspicious activity should be reported via the force's 101 number, or 999 in an emergency.
