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Two individuals lost their lives and three others sustained serious injuries outside a crowded synagogue in Manchester on Thursday, following a car attack and stabbing incident. Authorities believe the suspect was fatally shot by police.
The assault occurred as the Jewish community observed Yom Kippur, prompting police to activate a national terrorism response. This attack comes just days before the second anniversary of Hamas’s October 7, 2023, raids on Israel, which triggered intense conflict in Gaza and heightened tensions in Britain.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer quickly condemned the attack as “horrific” and announced increased security measures at UK synagogues. He left a European summit in Denmark early to lead an emergency security session in London.
King Charles III expressed that he and Queen Camilla were “deeply shocked and saddened” by the attack, especially on such a significant day for the Jewish community.
Greater Manchester Police declared a “major incident” shortly after 9:30 a.m. after responding to reports of a vehicle hitting pedestrians and a security guard being attacked with a knife at the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation in Crumpsall. Initially, they reported treating four people for injuries related to the vehicle and stabbing, and confirmed that firearms officers had shot the suspect, whom they believed to be the perpetrator.
Within hours, police announced that two victims had died, and the suspect, who was shot, was also dead. The death toll could not be officially confirmed due to suspicious items found on his person, and a bomb disposal team was on scene. Three others remained in serious condition.
Starmer stated he was “appalled” and committed to doing everything possible to protect the Jewish community, noting the horror of such violence on Yom Kippur. Israel’s embassy in the UK called the attack “abhorrent and deeply distressing,” emphasizing the need to guarantee the safety of Jewish communities across the UK.
Police responded to reports of a vehicle plowing into people outside the synagogue, along with reports that a security guard had been stabbed. Witnesses described police shooting the suspect after a car crash, with one saying, “They give him a couple of warnings, but he didn’t listen, so they opened fire. He collapsed and then tried getting up again, and they shot him again.”
People worshipping at the synagogue were initially held inside to ensure safety, then evacuated. Mayor Andy Burnham praised the police for swift action and support from the public, urging against speculation on social media while acknowledging the community’s concern.
Manchester is known worldwide for its football clubs and industrial heritage, and it has one of the country’s largest Jewish populations, which exceeded 28,000 in 2021 (per the Institute for Jewish Policy Research). MP Graham Stringer highlighted that the area hosts sizable Jewish and Muslim communities, with generally good relations among different groups.
The Community Security Trust, a Jewish safety organization tracking antisemitic incidents, stated it was working closely with police and the local Jewish community, calling the attack on Yom Kippur “appalling.”
The city has previously endured deadly terrorism, notably in 2017 when Salman Abedi carried out a suicide bombing outside an Ariana Grande concert at Manchester Arena, killing 22 and injuring hundreds.
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