A somber atmosphere has fallen over Manchester, England, following a devastating attack outside the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. The incident, which involved a vehicle ramming into pedestrians and a subsequent stabbing, tragically resulted in two fatalities and several injuries, with three individuals reported to be in serious condition.
According to Greater Manchester Police, the attack unfolded shortly after 9:00 a.m. local time, just a half-hour after morning prayers began. Authorities were alerted at 9:31 a.m. by a witness who reported a car being driven deliberately towards people, followed by a stabbing. Within a swift seven minutes, armed officers responded to the scene, confronting and fatally shooting the assailant by 9:38 a.m.
The synagogue was filled with worshippers at the time, who were initially held inside for their safety before being evacuated. Police officials noted the presence of “suspicious items on his person,” prompting a bomb squad to be called to the scene. Fortunately, the suspect was prevented from gaining entry to the synagogue itself.
This horrific event has sent shockwaves through the Jewish community in Manchester, which, with approximately 30,000 residents, is the largest outside of London in the UK. Mayor Andy Burnham expressed deep concern, highlighting that the community has been living with “a higher state of anxiety” due to rising antisemitism and ongoing global tensions, particularly related to the two-year-old conflict between Israel and Hamas.
The attack has drawn widespread condemnation across Britain and beyond. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, cutting short a conference in Copenhagen, stated his “appalled” reaction, emphasizing the “horrific” nature of the incident occurring on Yom Kippur. He assured the public that “additional police assets” were being deployed to synagogues nationwide to ensure the safety of Jewish communities. King Charles III also conveyed his profound sadness and shock at the events.
Security measures were immediately heightened at Jewish community centers across the UK, including London’s JW3, where a noticeable police presence was established. London Mayor Sadiq Khan confirmed that the Metropolitan Police would increase “high visibility policing in and around synagogues in London.” The Community Security Trust, a charity focused on combating antisemitism, advised synagogues to keep doors closed and avoid congregations outside premises.
Investigators are now working to determine if the attack meets Britain’s legal definition of terrorism, which requires violence perpetrated “for the purpose of advancing a political, religious, racial or ideological cause.” This decision involves a high-ranking police officer, the Senior National Coordinator for Counter Terrorism Policing, who meticulously reviews evidence such as witness accounts, digital forensics, and the suspect’s background.
Manchester has unfortunately been the target of past terror attacks. In May 2017, a suicide bombing at Manchester Arena killed 22 people, many of them children, and injured hundreds more. Another incident occurred on New Year’s Eve in 2018, when a stabbing near Manchester Arena was later declared a terror attack. Since 2017, Britain has seen 19 violent incidents formally classified as terrorism, with various motives identified.
A witness account from Martin Hamer described seeing the attacker attempting to breach a synagogue window before police arrived. Video footage, verified by The New York Times, captured armed officers aiming at the suspect on the ground, with one officer heard shouting, “He has a bomb, go away,” before shots were fired as the suspect appeared to move.