Horrific: Jewish man attacked in vicious hate crime in Manchester, "I thought I lost my sight"

The victim, who has chosen to remain anonymous, was struck from behind with a hard object, believed to be a bottle, as he was walking through Manchester City Center earlier this month. The blow shattered his glasses and left him with significant facial injuries. “I thought I could have lost sight in my right eye,” the victim recalled. He had no time to protect himself, clutching his phone to prevent theft before the sudden attack sent him off balance.

Witnesses report hearing the attacker yell “murderer” and blame the victim for the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Paramedics treated the victim for bruising and facial lacerations, but he continues to experience black spots in his vision. The psychological impact has also been severe, leaving him fearful of walking around the city and deeply traumatized by the attack.

Greater Manchester Police have confirmed that no arrests have been made so far, and they are continuing to investigate. In response, the Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA) has offered a £5,000 (approximately $6,300) reward for any information leading to the capture of the assailant.

This assault is part of a broader surge in antisemitic incidents across the UK. In 2024, the Community Security Trust (CST) recorded 3,528 antisemitic incidents, making it the second-worst year on record for such crimes. The number of incidents in Greater Manchester alone reached 480 last year, reflecting the national trend. This increase follows the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel and the ongoing war in Gaza, which has fueled rising tensions.

In a joint statement, Greater Manchester Police and the CST vowed to combat hate crimes and keep communities safe. They stressed that everyone should feel secure, regardless of their background, and promised to take swift action against those responsible for these violent acts.