In a horrifying incident on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish calendar, two individuals lost their lives in a vehicle ramming and stabbing attack outside a synagogue in Manchester, northwest England. Police confirmed that three others sustained serious injuries. Authorities reported that the suspected assailant was shot and believed to be deceased, though his condition couldn’t be definitively confirmed due to suspicious items found on him, prompting a bomb squad response.
This tragic event unfolded in a predominantly Orthodox Jewish area of Manchester, intensifying anxieties already present within the Jewish community amidst ongoing tensions related to the two-year conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. Many worshippers were inside the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue when the attack began shortly after 9 a.m. morning prayers. They were safely evacuated after the area was secured.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed his profound shock, noting that the timing on Yom Kippur made the attack “all the more horrific.” Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham praised the police for their rapid response, stating the suspect was neutralized within seven minutes. He also highlighted the recent increase in antisemitic incidents, contributing to a heightened state of anxiety within the Jewish community.
Further details revealed that eyewitness video footage depicted armed police confronting the attacker outside the synagogue. Officers were heard warning people to clear the area, citing a potential bomb. The suspect was shot after attempting to rise.
Key Developments:
- Eyewitness Account: Manchester resident Martin Hamer described witnessing the suspected attacker attempting to enter the synagogue through a window before police arrived. He saw one victim deceased and another fighting for his life near the car, capturing video as police opened fire.
- Widespread Security Boost: Emily Spurrell, chair of Britain’s Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, confirmed nationwide deployment of additional police resources to synagogues to reassure Jewish communities. In London, Mayor Sadiq Khan announced intensified visible policing around synagogues, with a notable presence already seen at the JW3 community center.
- International Condemnation: Israel’s Embassy in the UK condemned the attack, thanking Greater Manchester Police for their swift response and calling the violence on Yom Kippur “abhorrent and deeply distressing.”
- Royal Reaction: King Charles III and his wife conveyed their deep sadness and shock over the “horrific attack,” acknowledging its particular significance on a holy day for the Jewish community.
- Attacker Prevented Entry: Police clarified that the perpetrator was prevented from entering the synagogue, a critical outcome attributed to a witness’s rapid call to authorities.
- Casualties and Police Response: Greater Manchester Police reported receiving a public call at 9:31 a.m. about a car driven into pedestrians and a stabbing. Armed police responded swiftly, with the suspect shot by 9:38 a.m. In total, four individuals sustained injuries from both the vehicle and stab wounds; three remain in serious condition. A third fatality, believed to be the perpetrator, was reported by police but not officially confirmed due to suspicious items nearby.
- Emergency Government Meeting: Prime Minister Keir Starmer returned early from Copenhagen to chair a meeting of COBRA, the government’s national emergency committee, emphasizing the commitment to ensuring the Jewish community’s safety.
- Attack Timing: The incident occurred approximately 30 minutes after morning prayers (Shacharis) began at the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation.
- Jewish Community in Manchester: Manchester is home to roughly 30,000 Jewish residents, making it the largest Jewish community in the UK outside of London. The Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation is located in Crumpsall, a northern district of the city.