Three people, including the attacker, were killed on Thursday after a car ramming and stabbing incident at a synagogue in Manchester. Police have confirmed they are treating the assault, which took place on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, as a terrorist attack.
The incident occurred at around 09:31 BST outside the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in Crumpsall, north Manchester, an area home to a large Jewish community just four miles from the city centre. According to police, the attacker drove a car into members of the public before launching a stabbing assault. One of the victims was believed to be a security guard.
By 09:37, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) had declared a major incident. Within minutes, armed officers confronted the suspect and opened fire at 09:38. The man was shot and later confirmed dead at the scene. Police said worshippers inside the synagogue were kept in place until the area was secured, before being safely evacuated.
The North West Ambulance Service confirmed a major incident response, deploying paramedics and specialist staff. Two people were killed during the attack, and three others remain in a serious condition, with injuries linked to both stabbing and vehicle impact.
Eyewitnesses described the shocking scenes. Gareth Tonge, a delivery driver passing by, told the BBC he saw āa man bleeding out on the floorā and another armed with a knife attempting to smash into a nearby building. āWithin seconds, the police arrived. They gave him a couple of warnings, he didnāt listen so they opened fire,ā Mr Tonge said. He recalled the suspect being shot, attempting to rise again, before officers fired a second time.
Police Chief Laurence Taylor, leading national counter-terrorism operations, told reporters that the suspectās identity is known but has not been confirmed publicly for safety reasons. He also confirmed that two further arrests had been made in connection with the investigation.
Authorities said suspicious items were found on the attacker, leading to initial uncertainty over his death and prompting bomb disposal experts to attend the scene.
Verified footage circulating on social media captured the moment armed police fired on the suspect. The video shows officers aiming their weapons as the man lay on the ground before attempting to get back up, prompting further shots.
The attack has sent shockwaves through Manchesterās Jewish community, which was observing Yom Kippur at the time. National counter-terror policing has taken charge of the investigation as officers continue to examine the suspectās background and possible motivations.
