Australian Jewish community devastated by attack at UK synagogue that shows 'the risk is real and the fears are justified'

The Executive Council of Australian Jewry says the attack at a synagogue in Manchester on the holy day of Yom Kippur is devastating.

British police declared Thursday's deadly car and stabbing attack on the synagogue in the UK's north a terrorist incident.

Two people were killed and another three seriously injured.

Deep connections between the Australian and British Jewish communities go back "almost to the first fleet", according to Daniel Aghion, president of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry.

"The attack in Manchester will be felt very deeply here in Australia because of that — and also because of the fact it was a synagogue attacked on Yom Kippur," he told the ABC.

Mr Aghion said that it had been the experience of Jews around the world, including in Australia, that places o