By Rory Gannon

Copyright dailystar

British Jews are continuing to share their shock after an attack on a synagogue in Manchester. The attack took place just after 9:30am on Thursday (October 2), coinciding with Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. The synagogue attack has left Mancunians stunned, as police have confirmed that two people have died following the incident. Another three have been injured, while the alleged perpetrator has been shot by police and is “believed to be” dead. However, with the incident coming on a major Jewish holiday, Jews across the country are struggling to comprehend this attack on their community. They also are looking at how the security measures had been breached in order for the incident to claim any lives at all. The incident has shone a light on Jewish places of worship and the security measures that protect them from terrorist instances. Daily Star has unearthed some of the ways that these buildings keep the communities it supports safe, including a variety of extra barriers. On highly important days such as Yom Kippur, the synagogue will have extra protection, usually involving two separate volunteers swapping with each other on an hourly basis. As well as this, the volunteers are trained by the Community Security Trust, ensuring they know what they are doing should someone come for ill intentions. As well as this, a paid security guard will also be on hand to deal with any incidents that take place over the day. Some areas will also have extra police protection, while others will have security fences and barriers, almost like that of a prison . Quite often, synagogues and other Jewish centres spend thousands of pounds in order to properly secure their safety. This includes schools, where in the wake of the October 7 attacks, four schools in London were forced to close due to fears of anti-Semitic attacks. At the time, then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak gave Jewish communities a total of £18million to better secure community buildings and schools in their own areas. Around £15million is provided to these communities every year, but was bolstered 2023 in the immediate aftermath of the Hamas attacks. Typically, Jewish schools and community buildings look more like prisons than education centres, but is done so as a means of protection. These buildings are filled to the brim with security gates, barriers and guards at almost every entrance, as well as CCTV cameras covering almost every inch of the premises. Some places that have high concentrations of Jewish people living there ― such as in London — will take precautions to ensure their children know what to do. Some kids as young as four are made to participate in terrorist drills that see them hide under their desks in case the worst may happen. Meanwhile, Manchester’s Jewish community is both shocked and bewildered by the attack on the synagogue. However, due to the nature of Yom Kippur, many Jewish people will not even know about the incident once their observations of the festival have come to an end later tonight. For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters .