Four people were injured on Thursday morning in a vehicle ramming and stabbing attack outside the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue in Manchester, England. The incident, which occurred on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, concluded when police shot the suspected attacker.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) confirmed they received the first call at 9:31 a.m. from a member of the public reporting that a car was driven toward people and one man had been stabbed. Armed police were dispatched immediately.
Witness footage posted online captured the chaotic scene outside the synagogue gates, showing two armed officers aiming rifles at the suspect, who was on the ground near an injured victim. One officer was heard shouting, “He has a bomb, go away,” before the suspect reportedly attempted to get up. Police fired at least one shot, and the suspect fell back down.
The suspect was shot by police at 9:38 a.m., just seven minutes after the initial report. Police later confirmed the suspect did not gain access to the synagogue building itself. The condition of the suspect and the four injured victims remains unconfirmed.
The North West Ambulance Service declared a major incident and responded to the scene, where the injuries were caused by both the vehicle and stab wounds.
Political Leaders Condemn Attack
The timing of the violence—during Yom Kippur, a day of fasting and solemn reflection when large numbers of people attend synagogues—was highlighted by national leaders.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer issued a statement saying he was “appalled” by the attack, adding that “the fact that this has taken place on Yom Kippur… makes it all the more horrific.”
Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham also spoke to the BBC, noting the deep anxiety within the city’s Jewish community, which has seen “rising incidents of antisemitism over recent times.”
Burnham expressed relief at the swiftness of the police response, adding, “I can only imagine how people are feeling when they hear this news—that the fear that will bring.”
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