Manchester synagogue attack latest: suspect shot after four people injured in vehicle and stabbing attack, police say
Police say suspect shot after four people suffered injuries caused by car and stabbings
Greater Manchester Police said a suspect has been shot and four people have suffered injuries caused by a vehicle and stabbings at a synagogue in Crumpsall, north of the city.
The force said:
Police were called to the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue, on Middleton Road, Crumpsall, at 9.31am by a member of the public, stating he had witnessed a car being driven towards members of the public, and one man had been stabbed.
GMP declared PLATO and a major incident at 9.37am. Shots were fired by Greater Manchester Police firearms officers at 9.38am. One man has been shot, believed to be the offender.
Paramedics arrived at the scene at 9.41am and are tending to members of the public, currently four members of the public with injuries caused by both the vehicle and stab wounds.
Members of the public are asked to avoid the area while the police continue to deal with the incident.
Key events
Chris Osuh
Every synagogue in Greater Manchester has boosted security and several Greater Manchester hospitals – Salford Royal Hospital, Fairfield General and the Royal Oldham Hospital – have gone into lockdown, following reports that the suspect was carrying a bomb.
However members of the local Jewish community have continued to gather at the scene.
The shadow home secretary Chris Philp said he was “appalled” by the attack.
In a statement, the Conservative shadow minister said:
This is a sickening attack on people at a synagogue on Middleton Road in Manchester – on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.
My thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families and the whole Jewish community here in the UK.
I know everyone will want to support the emergency services in their work.
I am appalled not only by this brutal attack, but also by the evil that lies behind it.
Kemi Badenoch has described the incident in Greater Manchester as a “vile and disgusting attack”.
The Conservative leader told BBC Radio Bristol:
It does look like an outrageous attack on the Jewish community on their holiest day, Yom Kippur.
I think it is a vile and disgusting attack. I know that many Jewish people in our country feel that they’re no longer safe and my heart goes out to the people who have been hurt by this, and everyone who’s been affected.
She added:
I want to say to Jewish people all around our country that you belong here. Britain is a country which will look after you.
We need to make sure that the rise in antisemitism that we’re seeing in our country is quelled completely.
The reported stabbings come as members of the Jewish community observe Yom Kippur.
Yom Kippur is considered the holiest day in the Jewish calendar and is a time when synagogues are usually particularly busy.
Dave Rich, of the Community Security Trust (CST) – a charity that monitors antisemitism in the UK, said the day is similar to Christmas Day for Christians, but is a day of solemnity and fasting rather than celebration.
He said:
Yom Kippur is the holiest day of the Jewish year.
It’s a very solemn day and synagogues across the country will be full throughout the day.
There’s always a significant security operation in place between police and CST across the Jewish community on all major Jewish festivals.
Here are some more pictures coming out of the scene in Crumpsall, north Manchester, this morning:
A bomb disposal unit is at the scene and it is understood that hospitals in the area have heightened security measures.
Meanwhile, two air ambulances have just left the scene behind the synagogue.
Many distressed relatives and friends of those inside the building are gathering at the police cordon, anxious for news about those injured.
In a statement posted on X, home secretary Shabana Mahmood said she was “horrified” by the incident and is being updated by police.
She 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.
Josh Halliday
A woman who lives nearby said she has family and friends and the synagogue and rushed out as soon as she heard the police helicopter.
“I’m absolutely distraught,” said Olivia Gold, 57. “It’s Jewish new year as well and this is the holiest day in the calendar – maybe that’s why [the attack happened]. It would’ve been very busy, mainly with the men doing the service. It’s a big shul.”
She added:
This will be devastating for a long time. I just wish they would leave us alone. We’re a quiet community. It’s just horrendous. We don’t harm anybody, we don’t force our views on anybody.
Starmer to return home from Denmark and says he is ‘appalled’ by attack
Prime minister Keir Starmer will fly home early from a meeting of European leaders to chair a Cobra meeting following the attack at a synagogue in Greater Manchester.
Starmer said he was appalled by the attack, adding that the fact it had taken place on the holy day of Yom Kippur makes it “all the more horrific”.
He said:
I’m appalled by the attack at a synagogue in Crumpsall.
The fact that this has taken place on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, makes it all the more horrific.
My thoughts are with the loved ones of all those affected, and my thanks go to the emergency services and all the first responders.
Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham said one victim appeared to be a security guard who had been attacked with a knife.
He said: “It would seem that some of the security used by our colleagues in the Jewish community has really played a role here in preventing it being a worse situation.”
The area around the synagogue in Crumpsall, north of Manchester, has been swamped by dozens of police vehicles, along with fire and ambulance crews, while the force helicopter hovers overhead.
Streets surrounding the synagogue has been cordoned off with more police cars and vans, sirens blaring, racing down neighbouring roads, PA reports.
Police officers dressed in black combat fatigues and carrying machine guns could also be seen inside the cordon outside the synagogue.
A Jewish man, among a group of shocked onlookers at the cordon, said his wife and daughter and other members of the congregation were still inside the synagogue.
A number of black, unmarked police 4×4 vehicles and vans carrying plain clothes officers with face coverings were seen leaving the area of the incident at speed.
A Jewish man said:
It is the holiest day of the year and we get this.
There is no place for Jews in Britain anymore. It’s over.
Video shared on social media appeared to show police officers pointing guns at someone laying on the ground outside the front of the synagogue.
The armed officers shouted at onlookers to “get back” and “move on”.
The person on the ground is seen starting to get up before there is the sound of a gunshot and they fall to the ground, PA reports.
Another person was shown lying motionless on the ground outside the synagogue gates with blood near their head.
