Man who posted hateful antisemitic message on social media following the terrorist attack on a Manchester synagogue sentenced

A man who posted a hateful antisemitic message on social media just hours after a deadly terrorist attack on a Manchester synagogue last October has been sentenced today at Manchester City Magistrates' Court.

Within hours of the Heaton Park attack, Aiden Stanley, 20, posted a message on social media, using emojis including a sword and commenting: “should have been me who done it”.

He was sentenced to an 18-month community order with 20 rehabilitation days and a £160 fine. The sentence included an uplift to mark the hate element of the offence.

Peter Conroy, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said: “Aiden Stanley knowingly posted a grossly offensive, antisemitic message on social media.

“The timing of the post, within just six hours of the devastating synagogue attack in which two people died, makes it all the more disturbing.

“Stanley wanted to provoke a community who had already faced enormous suffering, and his sickening actions were made all the worse by the fact many were mourning the loss of family and friends following this terror attack.

“There is no place for hate in our society and we will continue to work with partners to bring those who spread hate in our communities to justice."

Around 15:30 on 2 October 2025, Aiden Stanley posted a comment on social media including a dagger emoji and the words “Should have been me who done it”.

The post was reported to the police and Stanley was arrested on 3 October 2025.

During his police interview he admitted the post was about Jewish people and claimed he had done it to impress people who would think it was funny.

When faced with then evidence, on 6 October 2025, at Manchester City Magistrates' Court, he pleaded guilty to a charge of sending a grossly offensive message.

On 29 January 2026, Stanley was sentenced at the same court.

A spokesperson for the Community Security Trust (CST), said: “CST welcomes the Crown Prosecution Service’s decision to pursue this case with the seriousness it deserves. Within hours of the Heaton Park terrorist attack, in which two people tragically lost their lives, Stanley posted malicious and deeply disturbing content on social media.

"At a moment of shock and grief, his actions were callous and deliberate, amplifying an already heightened sense of fear. This prosecution demonstrates that those who seek to exploit acts of terrorism to intimidate or incite hatred will be held to account. We are grateful to the police and the CPS for their swift and decisive response.”