Manchester, UK, Oct 2: Two people were killed and three others injured after an assailant rammed a car into pedestrians and stabbed a security guard near the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in the Crumpsall district of Manchester on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.
Greater Manchester Police said officers shot the attacker after being alerted that a vehicle had ploughed into members of the public and that one man had been stabbed. The suspect was believed to be dead, though officials said confirmation was delayed due to “suspicious items on his person,” prompting the deployment of a bomb disposal unit.
“We are grateful to the member of the public whose quick response allowed our swift action, preventing the offender from entering the synagogue,” a police spokesperson said.
Eyewitnesses described chaotic scenes as police evacuated worshippers, many elderly, some in tears and dressed in white robes or suits with skullcaps. A video verified by Reuters showed police firing inside the synagogue perimeter, while a man lay bleeding on the ground.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer, cutting short his visit to Copenhagen to chair an emergency security meeting, called the incident “horrific,” adding, “The fact that this has taken place on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, makes it all the more appalling.” He announced extra police deployments to synagogues nationwide, vowing, “We will do everything to keep our Jewish community safe.”
King Charles expressed that he was “deeply shocked and saddened,” while Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham said the immediate danger appeared to be over but described it as a “serious incident.”
The attack comes amid heightened fears of antisemitism in Britain. The Community Security Trust (CST) recorded over 3,500 antisemitic incidents in 2024, the second worst year on record, following a surge after the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel and the subsequent Gaza war.
Police have not yet identified the motive. Security officials in the UK have previously warned of threats from both Islamist extremists and far-right terrorism.
