Manchester Jewish Community Demands Cancellation of Fontaines D.C. Concerts
Manchester's Jewish community demands the cancellation of Fontaines D.C. concerts near a synagogue targeted in a 2025 terror attack, citing safety risks from the band's anti-Israel rhetoric.
Representatives of the Jewish community in Manchester are demanding the cancellation of two upcoming concerts by the Irish rock band Fontaines D.C., scheduled for next summer at a park near a synagogue that was targeted in a terrorist attack on Yom Kippur last year. According to community leaders, the band's repeated anti-Israel rhetoric poses a direct security risk to a community still reeling from the tragedy, which claimed the lives of two worshippers.
The concerts are slated for July 3 and 4, 2027, at Heaton Park, located less than 1.6 kilometers from the synagogue. The Representative Council of Greater Manchester Jews has formally appealed to the city council to cancel the event, though officials indicate the shows are currently expected to proceed as planned. The council clarified that it does not oppose concerts in the park or legitimate political expression, but rather fears the potential fallout of the band's inflammatory statements.
Rhetoric and Previous Controversies
Fontaines D.C. has a history of vocal pro-Palestinian activism and harsh criticism of Israel. During a London concert before an audience of roughly 45,000, the band displayed messages accusing Israel of genocide and calling for the liberation of Palestine. In 2024, guitarist Carlos O'Connell used an award acceptance speech to hurl profanities at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Zionism, concluding with a call to free Palestine.
"In a climate of rising antisemitism, these slogans and statements risk importing Middle Eastern tensions into the UK and turning local Jews into targets," the Representative Council stated.
The Shadow of the Synagogue Attack
The proximity to the synagogue adds profound sensitivity to the controversy. In the October 2, 2025 terror attack at the site, 66-year-old Melvin Kravitz and 53-year-old Adrian Daulby were killed. Kravitz was stabbed to death, while Daulby was fatally struck by police gunfire while barricading the synagogue doors to prevent the terrorist from entering.
Manchester City Council has not announced any plans to cancel the concerts. In a statement, municipal authorities acknowledged the community's understandable anxieties following the attack and the broader rise in antisemitism, emphasizing that security preparations will address these concerns directly. Event plans will be reviewed in coordination with the police, emergency services, and organizers, alongside comprehensive risk assessments.
Organizers emphasized that discrimination and intimidation, including antisemitism, have no place at their events and expressed a willingness to meet with concerned residents.
