Two dead and suspect down after savage attack outside Manchester synagogue on Yom Kippur
Bloodbath on Jewish Holy Day
Shock hit Manchester’s Crumpsall this morning when a man ploughed a car into crowds outside the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue before stabbing worshippers. The brutal assault unfolded at around 9:30am on Middleton Road during Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.
Two people were confirmed dead, while at least four others were wounded, three critically. The attacker — believed to be wearing a bomb vest — was shot dead by armed police after ignoring multiple warnings.
National Terror Alert: Code ‘Plato’ Triggered
Greater Manchester Police wasted no time declaring a “Plato” response — signalling a marauding terrorist attack. Armed officers confronted the suspect at 9:38am, shooting him multiple times. Bomb disposal squads carried out a controlled explosion on suspicious devices found on his person.
A witness told how the attacker moved “robotically” through the scene, targeting Jewish victims. Thanks to a quick-thinking rabbi who barricaded the synagogue doors, the man was stopped from entering the building.
Community Shaken, Security Ramped Up Nationwide
Manchester’s Jewish community is left reeling from what Rabbi Jonathan Romain called “every Jewish person’s worst nightmare.” City Council leader Bev Craig voiced solidarity: “Manchester stands with our Jewish community at this darkest hour.”
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer cut short a European summit to chair an emergency Cobra meeting, pledging to increase police presence across synagogues nationwide.
Official Reactions and Ongoing Response
- GMP praised a heroic synagogue security guard who helped stop further carnage.
- Police Federation Chair Mike Peake hailed officers’ “remarkable bravery.”
- Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood branded the attack “horrifying” and urged public calm.
- King Charles and the Queen expressed their “deep shock and sadness” at the “horrific” incident.
Latest Developments
- Six Manchester hospitals, including Salford Royal, are on lockdown with boosted security.
- Counter-terror police and armed forces are scouring nearby homes for evidence.
- The police Casualty Bureau is open at 0800 056 0154 for worried relatives and witnesses.
Police have urged anyone with information or footage to contact authorities directly and not share online, to aid the ongoing investigation.
This is a live developing story. Stay tuned for updates.
