Heavy police presence in Manchester after synagogue stabbing
The suspect is also believed to be dead after being shot by officers, but that couldn’t be immediately confirmed because of concerns he had an explosive on him, says Greater Manchester Police.Heavy police presence in Manchester after synagogue stabbing
Two people were killed and three others were seriously wounded Thursday (October 2, 2025) in a synagogue attack in northern England on the holiest day of the Jewish year, police said.Heavy police presence in Manchester after synagogue stabbing
The suspect is also believed to be dead after being shot by officers, but that couldn’t be immediately confirmed because of concerns he had an explosive on him, Greater Manchester Police said. A bomb disposal team was at the scene.Heavy police presence in Manchester after synagogue stabbing
The incident took place as people gathered at the synagogue on Yom Kippur, the day of atonement and the most solemn day in the Jewish calendar.Heavy police presence in Manchester after synagogue stabbing
In a series of posts on X, Greater Manchester Police said they were called to the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in Crumpsall shortly after 9:30 am by a member of the public, who said he had witnessed a car being driven toward members of the public and that one man had been stabbed.Heavy police presence in Manchester after synagogue stabbing
Shots were fired by firearms officers minutes later, police said. “One man has been shot, believed to be the offender,” it added.
Police initially said four other people were being treated for injuries caused by both the vehicle and stab wounds. They later updated the number of victims to five.
Police had “declared Plato,” the national code-word used by police and emergency services when responding to a “marauding terror attack.” That does not mean it has been declared a terrorist incident.Heavy police presence in Manchester after synagogue stabbing
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he was appalled by the attack and additional police officers would be deployed at synagogues across the U.K.. He was flying home early from a summit of European leaders in Copenhagen, Denmark, to chair a meeting of the government’s emergency committee.Heavy police presence in Manchester after synagogue stabbing
“The fact that this has taken place on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, makes it all the more horrific,” Mr. Starmer said on the X platform.
Dave Rich of the Community Security Trust, a charity that monitors antisemitism in the UK, 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,” he said.
He said there is “always a significant security operation in place” between police and the trust across the Jewish community on all major Jewish festivals.
Manchester was the site of Britain’s deadliest attack in recent years, the 2017 suicide bombing at an Ariana Grande concert that killed 22 people.Heavy police presence in Manchester after synagogue stabbing
London police boost patrols near synagogues
Police said on Thursday (October 2, 2025) it had deployed additional officers around synagogues and Jewish community sites in London, following a deadly attack at a synagogue in Manchester earlier in the day.Heavy police presence in Manchester after synagogue stabbing
London’s Metropolitan Police said there was no indication of an increased threat to the capital but had taken precautionary measures.Heavy police presence in Manchester after synagogue stabbing
As per DW, the Greater Manchester Police (GMP) declared the attack as a “major incident”. Officials added that they were called at 09:31 AM to the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue on Middleton Road.
Initial reports suggests that a car being driven at members of the public. Officers said one man was also stabbed during the incident. Police officials added the suspect was shot at and is believed to be dead.Heavy police presence in Manchester after synagogue stabbing
However, the death of the suspected attacker “cannot currently be confirmed due to safety issues surround suspicious items on his person,” police said told reporters. A bomb disposal unit as also called to the scene.
Andy Burnham, the mayor of Manchester, reacted to the attack, calling it a “serious incident.”Heavy police presence in Manchester after synagogue stabbing
“I would say to people listening, firstly to avoid the area – it is a serious incident, but at the same time I can give some reassurance immediately to people that the immediate danger appears to be over, and Greater Manchester Police have dealt with it very quickly,” the mayor told BBC radio.
“The Jewish community who have seen rising incidents of antisemitism over recent times and have been living with a higher state of anxiety because of the times that we’re living in,” Burnham added.Heavy police presence in Manchester after synagogue stabbing
Starmer calls for emergency meeting
Following the attack, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has called a crisis COBRA meeting. The attack also comes on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish calendar.
On his way back to the UK from Copenhagen, the PM said additional police were being deployed to synagogues across the country.Heavy police presence in Manchester after synagogue stabbing
“While there is nothing to suggest an increased threat to London, we have deployed additional resources to the areas around synagogues, other Jewish community venues and in those boroughs with significant Jewish populations,” it said in a post on X
