A horrific attack unfolded outside a synagogue in Manchester, England, on Thursday morning, leaving two people dead and several injured on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. Police confirmed that the suspected assailant was shot by officers and is believed to be deceased, though his condition couldn’t be officially verified due to “suspicious items” found on him, prompting a bomb squad to secure the area.
The incident began around 9:31 a.m. when authorities received reports of a vehicle being driven into members of the public, followed by a stabbing. Armed police swiftly responded, with the suspect reportedly shot within seven minutes of the initial calls. According to Manchester resident Martin Hamer, who witnessed the chaotic scene, the attacker attempted to enter the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue through a window just moments before police arrived. Hamer described seeing one person deceased and another “fighting for his life in front of the car” before police opened fire. Crucially, quick action by a witness who called police prevented the attacker from gaining access to the synagogue itself.
The attack occurred in a predominantly Orthodox Jewish neighborhood of Manchester, exacerbating existing anxieties within the Jewish community amidst ongoing tensions from the two-year conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. A large congregation was observing morning prayers (Shacharis) at the synagogue, which had begun at 9 a.m. Worshippers were initially held safely inside while the immediate area was secured, before being evacuated.
The incident drew widespread condemnation from leaders across Britain and beyond. Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed his profound shock, highlighting the “horrific” timing on Yom Kippur, and promptly returned from a European leaders’ conference in Copenhagen to chair a national emergency committee. King Charles III and his wife also conveyed their deep sadness, noting the significance of the day for the Jewish community. Britain’s Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, described herself as “horrified,” while Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch denounced it as a “vile and disgusting attack.” Israel’s Embassy in the U.K. also condemned the violence, thanking Greater Manchester Police for their rapid response.
In response to the attack, security was immediately bolstered at Jewish institutions nationwide. Emily Spurrell, chair of Britain’s Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, confirmed additional resources were being deployed to synagogues to “reassure Jewish communities.” London Mayor Sadiq Khan announced that the Metropolitan Police would increase “high visibility policing” around synagogues in the capital. The Community Security Trust, a British charity focused on antisemitism and Jewish security, advised people to avoid congregating outside synagogues and to keep doors closed at all times.
Manchester is home to approximately 30,000 Jewish residents, making it the largest Jewish population in the United Kingdom outside of London. The Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation is located in Crumpsall, a northern district of the city.