At least two people have been killed and four others hospitalized following a car ramming and stabbing attack outside a synagogue in Manchester on Thursday. Authorities have declared the assault, which took place on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, as a terrorist incident.
Greater Manchester Police confirmed that the suspected attacker was shot dead by armed officers within minutes of receiving an emergency call. Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson said the assailant was wearing a vest that appeared to contain explosives, but later confirmed the device was not viable.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the attack, stating that the suspect deliberately targeted “Jews because they are Jews.” He pledged stronger security for the community, promising a more visible police presence at synagogues nationwide. Starmer also returned early from a security meeting in Denmark to chair an emergency COBRA session in London.
King Charles III and Queen Camilla expressed that they were “deeply shocked and saddened,” while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel “grieves with the Jewish community in the UK.” Israeli President Isaac Herzog also conveyed his condolences, stressing the urgent need to confront rising antisemitism.
Witnesses described the scene as chaotic, with police moving swiftly to contain the situation and prevent the attacker from entering the synagogue, where worshippers had gathered for morning prayers. A member of the public who first alerted authorities was credited with helping police intervene quickly.
Two arrests linked to the incident have also been made, though no further details were provided. Security has since been tightened across Jewish sites in Britain, with police patrols increased in Manchester, London, and other major cities.
The attack has drawn widespread condemnation from political leaders and community representatives. French President Emmanuel Macron said France stands with the families of the victims, while Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar criticized UK authorities for not doing enough to curb what he described as a “toxic wave of antisemitism.”
The Community Security Trust, a UK-based Jewish charity, said the timing of the assault on Yom Kippur underlined its devastating impact, noting the sharp rise in antisemitic incidents in recent years.
The Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue, where the incident occurred, had a morning service scheduled when the attack unfolded. Worshippers and staff have been praised for their bravery in preventing the assailant from gaining entry.
Police say they believe they know the attacker’s identity but have not released it publicly. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities have urged the public to remain alert but not alarmed.
