A man launched a violent assault on a synagogue in Manchester, England, on Thursday, the solemn day of Yom Kippur, killing two people and injuring four others. The attacker used a car to ram into people and then continued his rampage with a knife. Minutes after the assault began, police officers intervened, shooting and killing the assailant. Authorities have formally labeled this heinous act as terrorism.
Investigators confirmed that a vest worn by the attacker, initially thought to be an explosive device, was not viable. Two individuals have been arrested in connection with the attack, though their identities and precise involvement remain undisclosed by the police.
The horrific scene unfolded outside the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation, located in the heart of Manchester’s significant Orthodox Jewish community. Eyewitnesses reported the attacker driving a car into a crowd before exiting and wielding a knife. Stephen Watson, the chief constable of the Manchester police department, stated, ‘The driver of the car was seen then to attack people with a knife. He was wearing about his body a vest which had the appearance of an explosive device.’
Security guards and others bravely prevented the attacker from entering the synagogue, where morning Yom Kippur prayer services were underway with a large congregation inside. Worshippers were initially instructed to remain indoors before being safely evacuated. Videos from the scene show the attacker on the ground after being shot by police, with another shot fired as he attempted to rise.
This incident has profoundly shaken Manchester’s Jewish community and led to increased police presence at Jewish cultural and religious sites throughout Britain.
Key Details:
- Terrorism Declared: British police officially classified the attack as an act of terrorism, a designation applied to violence aimed at advancing a political, religious, racial, or ideological cause.
- Heightened Security: The attack has put Manchester and the wider UK on edge. Security measures have been significantly ramped up at Jewish community centers and religious sites nationwide. In London, a suspicious package briefly caused the evacuation of a major train station.
- Widespread Condemnation: Leaders from across the political spectrum have condemned the attack. Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the attacker ‘a vile individual who wanted to attack Jews because they are Jews.’ Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood expressed her horror, and Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch described it as a ‘vile and disgusting attack.’
- Manchester’s Jewish Community: Manchester boasts Britain’s largest Jewish population outside London, with approximately 30,000 residents. The city is also home to an even larger Muslim population, a result of centuries of diverse immigration.
Nader Ibrahim contributed to this report.