Two people have died after a car and stabbing attack at a synagogue in Greater Manchester on the holiest day of the Jewish calendar, while a suspect has been shot by officers.
A man was stabbed and others were injured after the vehicle drove into the crowd at Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue, on Middleton Road, Crumpsall, around three miles north of Manchester city centre.
Police have confirmed that the attack is being treated as a terror incident, and that two arrests have been made. A suspect is believed to be dead after being shot by officers, but Greater Manchester Police said it cannot confirm this.
Three people remain in serious condition.
Sir Keir Starmer said he was “absolutely shocked” by the attack in Manchester and vowed to deploy “additional police assets to synagogues across the country”.
A GMP spokesperson said: “We know today’s horrifying attack, on the Jewish community’s holiest day, will have caused significant shock and fear throughout all of our communities.
“We are grateful to the member of the public whose quick response to what they witnessed allowed our swift action, and as a result, the offender was prevented from entering the synagogue.”
This is a developing story: For the latest updates follow The Independent’s live coverage HERE
How did the incident unfold?
Greater Manchester Police say officers were called to Heaton Park Synagogue at 9.31am by a member of the public. They stated that they had witnessed a car being driven towards members of the public, and that one man had been stabbed.
Police declared a major incident at 9.37am, labelled “Plato” – a codeword used for a potential “marauding terrorist attack”.
Shots were fired by GMP officers at 9.38am, when one man – believed to be the offender – was shot. He is believed to be dead, but police cannot confirm.
Paramedics arrived on the scene at 9.41am, and began tending to members of the public. Four people were confirmed to have injuries caused by both the vehicle and stab wounds and were being treated.
At 12.11am, GMP confirmed that two people had been killed in the attack, and that the suspect was believed dead after being shot by officers.
A bomb disposal unit is at the scene, while hospitals and other synagogues in the area have heightened security measures in place. Armed police officers remain near the synagogue, alongside many paramedics.
Eyewitness Chava Lewin, who described herself as a religious Jew and lives next door to the synagogue, said her husband saw the incident unfold.
She said: “I spoke to someone who said she was driving and saw a car driving erratically and it crashed into the gates (of the synagogue).
“She thought maybe he had a heart attack. The second he got out of the car, he started stabbing anyone near him. He went for the security guard and tried to break into the synagogue. He was in the courtyard.
“Someone barricaded the door. Everyone is in utter shock.”
Is it being treated as terrorism?
Counter Terrorism Policing has declared the attack as a terrorist incident. Head of the unit, Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, has said that specialist teams are leading the investigation.
The event coincides with the Jewish holiday Yom Kippur, which is the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.
Mr Taylor said said: “As we do this, those who have been killed and injured are the forefront of our minds, as are their families, friends and all those who love them. An attack on our Jewish community, today on Yom Kippur, is devastating.”
Greater Manchester Police say there was a “suspicious item” on the suspect’s person, which a bomb disposal unit has was called in to assess.
A short distance away from the synagogue in Crumpsall, police officers armed with Heckler & Koch machine guns stood guard at the head of a path, between houses, leading up to the back of the synagogue.
Various police vehicles, sirens blaring, could be heard in the distance and an unmarked car, driven by a man who appeared to be military personnel, wearing brown camouflage army fatigues and a green cap, drove towards the cordon.
What do we know about the victims?
Authorities have not yet confirmed details of those who were killed or injured in the incident. It is understood that a security guard for the synagogue was among those who were attacked.
What do we know about the suspect?
No details have been shared about the suspects by authorities, except that the one shot at the scene is a male. Video footage from the incident appears to show a man wearing a bulky moving on the ground, having been shot by police. Police have confirmed that he had “suspicious items on his person” which required a bomb disposal unit to assess.
Two other suspects have been arrested, police have confirmed, but no details about them have yet been shared.
What has been the reaction?
Sir Keir Starmer is flying home early from a meeting of European leaders to chair a Cobra meeting following the attack at a synagogue in Greater Manchester. The PM said he was “appalled” at the attack, adding: “The fact that this has taken place on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, makes it all the more horrific.”
Home secretary Shabana Mahmood said: “I am horrified by the news of an attack at a synagogue in Manchester today, on the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.
“My first thoughts are with the victims, our brave police and emergency services.
“I am being kept updated by Greater Manchester Police. I urge people to follow the advice of the emergency services.”
Rabbi Jonathan Romain, emeritus rabbi of Maidenhead Synagogue and current head of the Rabbinic Court of Great Britain, said the attack was “every Jewish person’s worst nightmare”.
He said: “Not only is this a sacred day, the most sacred in the Jewish calendar, but it’s also a time of mass gathering, and the time when the Jewish community, however religious or irreligious, gathers together.”
Where did the attack happen?
The incident unfolded outside Heaton Park Synagogue in Crumpsall, north Manchester. The area is home to a large Jewish community, with many synagogues and community centres.
According to its Facebook page, Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation is a large Ashkenazi Orthodox synagogue, which was formally founded in 1935. Rabbi Daniel Walker currently heads the congregation.
Minute by minute: how the attack unfolded
9.31am – GM police officers were called to Heaton Park Synagogue by a member of the public. They said they had seen a car being driven towards members of the public, and that one man had been stabbed.
9.37am – Police declare a major incident and Plato – the codeword used for a potential “marauding terrorist attack”.
9.38am – Shots are fired by police officers, striking the suspected offender.
9.41am – Paramedics arrive on the scene and begin tending to members of the public. Four people are confirmed injured at this point.
12.11pm – GMP confirm that two people were killed in the attack, and that the suspected offender is believed to be deceased after being shot by officers.
15.18pm – Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor announces that the attack is being treated as a terrorist incident, and that two arrests have been made.
