Three people, including a suspected attacker, were killed on Thursday in a car ramming and stabbing incident at a synagogue in Manchester. Police confirmed the suspect was shot dead at the scene.
The attack took place at the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in the Crumpsall area of north Manchester, about four miles from the city centre. The incident coincided with Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, when the synagogue was full of worshippers.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said they received reports at 09:31 BST of a car driving into pedestrians and a man being stabbed, believed to be a security guard. By 09:37, officers had declared a major incident, and one minute later, police opened fire on the suspect, who died shortly afterward.
Eyewitness Gareth Tonge, who was nearby making deliveries, described seeing a man bleeding on the ground and another trying to stab his way into a building. “Within seconds, the police arrived, they gave him a couple of warnings, he didn’t listen so they opened fire,” he told the BBC. Tonge said the attacker attempted to get back up before officers shot him again.
Worshippers inside the synagogue were held for safety while police secured the area. They have since been evacuated. A bomb disposal unit was also called after officers reported suspicious items on the suspect’s body.
The North West Ambulance Service confirmed a major incident had been declared and deployed staff to the scene. Police said two victims died from their injuries, while three others remain in serious condition.
Authorities said the victims sustained injuries from both the vehicle and stab wounds. Images and video verified by the BBC show a man matching the suspect’s description being shot by police near the synagogue’s perimeter.
Police have not released the identity of the attacker or the victims and said investigations are ongoing.