MANCHESTER, UK—Two people have been confirmed dead and three others are in serious condition following a vehicle ramming and stabbing attack outside the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in the Crumpsall district of North Manchester this morning. The incident occurred as members of the Jewish community observed Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, when synagogues are typically full.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) confirmed they were called at 9:31 am after a witness reported seeing a car driven at members of the public, followed by a man, believed to be a security guard, being stabbed.
Police Response and Suspect Status
Armed police officers arrived on the scene swiftly. Shots were fired by GMP firearms officers at 9:38 am, and a man believed to be the offender was shot. While police believe the suspect is dead, his death could not be immediately confirmed “due to safety issues surrounding suspicious items on his person.” A police bomb disposal unit (EOD) has been deployed to the scene to deal with the potential threat.
GMP declared a major incident and announced the use of the national code-word “Plato,” used by emergency services when responding to a “marauding terror attack.”
National Condemnation and COBRA Meeting
The attack drew immediate and widespread condemnation from the highest levels of government.
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer expressed his horror, stating he was “appalled” and adding that the fact the attack took place on Yom Kippur made it “all the more horrific.” It is understood the Prime Minister will fly home early from a meeting of European leaders to chair an emergency COBRA (Cabinet Office Briefing Rooms) meeting to coordinate the government’s response to the national crisis.
King Charles and Queen Camilla said they were “deeply shocked and saddened” by the horrific event. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and the Israeli embassy in London also condemned the “abhorrent and deeply distressing” act.
Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham praised the police for their swift action, noting that the “immediate danger appears to be over” and advising the public to avoid the area. The Community Security Trust (CST) confirmed that additional police assets are being deployed to synagogues across the UK to ensure the safety of the Jewish community.
