Two people were killed and three others seriously injured in an attack at the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in Manchester during Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.
According to Greater Manchester Police (GMP), armed officers shot the suspect outside the synagogue. While the attacker is believed to be dead, police have not confirmed his identity because “suspicious items” were found on his body. Bomb disposal experts were deployed, and worshippers were kept inside the synagogue until the area was declared safe.
A GMP spokesperson said police are working with other synagogues in the region to reassure the community:
“We know today’s horrifying attack will have caused significant shock and fear. We are grateful to members of the public whose quick response allowed us to act swiftly and stop the attacker from entering the synagogue.”
The Israeli Embassy in London condemned the incident as “abhorrent and deeply distressing,” stressing the urgent need to protect Jewish communities in the UK.
King Charles III expressed condolences, saying he and Queen Camilla were “deeply shocked and saddened” and thanked emergency services for their swift action.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer also condemned the attack, cutting short a summit in Denmark to return to Britain. He pledged more police protection for Jewish communities: “We will do everything we can to keep our Jewish community safe.”
Meanwhile, London’s Metropolitan Police confirmed that patrols have been stepped up around Jewish cultural and religious sites nationwide.
Report by: Gborogen Rejoice | Edited by: Chris Odjomah