British police confirm they have shot a suspect following an attack outside a pro-Israel synagogue in the north of Manchester in which two people were killed and three others seriously injured.
The Greater Manchester Police said in a series of posts on X on Thursday that they were called to the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue in Crumpsall shortly after 9.30am (08:30 GMT) by a member of the public, who said he had witnessed a car being rammed into people and that one man had been stabbed.
Police confirmed that two people were killed in the attack, and a third person, suspected to be the attacker, who was shot by police, was also believed to have died.
They could not confirm if the suspect was dead “due to safety issues surround suspicious items on his person”. A bomb disposal unit has been called and is now at the scene.
The attack has taken place on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. An image of the suspect believed to be the attacker has been released.
The Prime Minister Kier Starmer has condemned the attack in a post published on X.
“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.”
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Following news of the attack, the Manchester Council of Mosques released a statement expressing shock and sadness.
“The Manchester Council of Mosques is shocked and saddened to hear of today’s stabbing outside a synagogue in Manchester. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families, and the Jewish community at this distressing time.
Manchester has always been a city where people of all faiths and backgrounds live side by side. Any attempt to divide us through violence or hatred will fail — we remain united in our commitment to peace and mutual respect.
We urge everyone to remain calm, allow the police to carry out their investigations, and to avoid speculation. It is vital at moments like these that we stand together as one Manchester — united against hatred and committed to peace, justice, and respect for all.”
Pro-Israel connection
At this stage it isn’t clear why the attacker targeted the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue, however, the establishment and it’s members have been known to engage in pro-Israel activism amid the ongoing genocide in Gaza.
On the synagogue website, an entire page has been dedicated to Israel’s war on Gaza in which it refers to the Israeli army as “heroic.”
“Israel was just waking up, getting ready to dance with the Torahs. Within hours, more than 1,400 people were murdered, thousands injured, and over 240 individuals abducted by terrorists.
“In the months that have followed, our heroic IDF soldiers have done all they can to rescue the abducted and combat the terrorists. And Jews and non-Jews around the world have risen to support the residents of the Holy Land. Mitzvahs, donations, good wishes, prayers, and assistance have poured in non-stop.”
Elsewhere, on the synagogues social media, pictures have been published which appear to show senior figures associated to the synagogue attending pro-Israel rallies.
Israel is currently accused of engaging in a genocidal war on Gaza while the IDF and Israel’s leaders have been accused of committing war crimes.
