Manchester Synagogue Attack on Yom Kippur: Four Injured, Suspect Shot by Police
Manchester, UK — A counterterrorism investigation is underway after a violent attack outside a Manchester synagogue on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish calendar. Four people were injured when a man drove a car into pedestrians and then carried out a stabbing before being shot by armed police.
The Attack: What Happened
The incident unfolded at around 9:30 a.m. local time on Thursday outside the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation in Crumpsall, north Manchester.
Witnesses reported seeing a vehicle deliberately ram pedestrians near the synagogue gates. The attacker then left the car and stabbed at least one person, believed to be a security guard.
Police firearms officers arrived within minutes and engaged the suspect at 9:38 a.m., shooting him at the scene. He was taken into custody, and the area was immediately sealed off.
The North West Ambulance Service confirmed it treated four injured people, some with stab wounds and others with injuries from the vehicle impact.
Emergency Response
In response to the scale of the incident, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) activated Operation Plato, the national protocol used when a potential “marauding terrorist attack” is suspected.
Counterterrorism officers and MI5 were swiftly called in to assess the situation, while nearby hospitals, including Salford Royal, temporarily went into lockdown as a precaution.
Attack on a Sacred Day
The assault came during Yom Kippur, the most solemn and widely observed day in the Jewish faith. Synagogues across the UK were full for prayer and fasting rituals, and security was already heightened.
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham praised the rapid police intervention and synagogue security measures, which he said likely prevented a greater tragedy.
Political Reaction
Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the attack as “appalling,” emphasizing its timing on Yom Kippur as especially disturbing. He cut short his attendance at a European summit in Copenhagen to return to London and chair an emergency COBRA security meeting.
Starmer also confirmed that additional police patrols will be deployed to synagogues nationwide to reassure Jewish communities.
Investigation Ongoing
Authorities have not yet released the identity or motive of the suspect. The synagogue and surrounding area remain under police cordon as investigators collect evidence and question witnesses.
Though the immediate threat has passed, counterterrorism officials warn that security remains on high alert across the UK amid fears of copycat or coordinated attacks.
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