Tragedy struck in Manchester, northwestern England, on Thursday when four individuals sustained injuries in a combined vehicle ramming and stabbing incident outside a local synagogue. Authorities confirmed that the suspect involved in this heinous attack has been apprehended after being shot.
Police reports indicate that the assailant was unable to breach the security of the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue. The precise condition of both the suspect and the injured victims could not be immediately confirmed by officials.
This disturbing event occurred on Thursday morning, coinciding with Yom Kippur, a day of profound significance and the holiest observance in the Jewish religious calendar. This period traditionally sees a substantial increase in attendance at synagogues, making the timing of the attack particularly distressing.
According to Greater Manchester Police, a public call was received at 9:31 a.m., reporting a car being deliberately driven into pedestrians and one man suffering stab wounds.
Responding swiftly, armed police units arrived on the scene, and the suspect was shot just seven minutes later, at 9:38 a.m., as detailed in the official statement.
The four members of the public who were injured suffered wounds from both the vehicle impact and the stabbing. The North West Ambulance Service confirmed that they immediately declared a major incident and dispatched emergency teams to manage the situation.
This remains an active and developing story; further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.