Terror Attack at Manchester Synagogue on Yom Kippur Leaves Two Dead, Suspect Shot by Police

Two people have been killed and several others injured in a terror attack outside Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in Manchester on Thursday morning, during the Jewish holy day of Yom Kippur.

Police said a security guard was attacked with a knife outside the synagogue, before the suspect went on to injure others and drive a car into members of the public. Armed officers shot the attacker dead at the scene.

Deaths and Injuries Confirmed

Greater Manchester Police confirmed that two victims and the suspect had died. Three other people remain in a serious condition.

Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, the national head of counter-terror policing, confirmed the incident is being treated as terrorism-related. Two further arrests have been made.

Police patrols have been stepped up at synagogues and Jewish sites across the UK.

Armed Police Response and Suspicious Items

Officers were alerted at 9:31am and declared a major incident minutes later. Armed police fired shots at 9:38am, preventing the attacker from entering the synagogue.

A bomb disposal unit was dispatched after “suspicious items” were found on the suspect’s body. Several streets around the synagogue remain cordoned off, with heavily armed police on patrol.

Prime Minister Chairs Emergency Cobra Meeting

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer described the attack as “appalling” and “absolutely shocking”. He returned early from a European leaders’ meeting in Denmark to chair an emergency Cobra meeting.

“Additional police assets are being deployed to synagogues across the country,” he said.

Shock Across the Jewish Community

The Community Security Trust (CST) called the incident an “appalling attack”. Dave Rich of the CST noted that security has long been a priority on major Jewish festivals, including Yom Kippur.

A worshipper told Sky News that the assault felt like “the culmination of something the Jewish community has been fearing for two years.”

Raphi Bloom, a director at a Jewish social care charity, said:

“Almost every Jew in this country realised this day would come. I never thought it would happen at my synagogue, to my friends, to my rabbi, in my city.”

He urged Jewish institutions to build secure fencing and employ round-the-clock protection.

Political Leaders and Royal Family Respond

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said she was “horrified” by the attack, while Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham condemned it as a “vile attack on our Jewish community on its holiest day.”

The Prince and Princess of Wales released a statement:

“Our thoughts are with the victims and the families of the terrible attack at Heaton Park Synagogue. The fact that this tragedy occurred on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, makes it all the more shocking.”

The Israeli Embassy in London also condemned the attack, describing it as “abhorrent and deeply distressing.”

Hospitals in Lockdown

Several hospitals in Greater Manchester, including Salford Royal, Fairfield General, Rochdale Infirmary and Royal Oldham, were placed in temporary lockdown following the incident.

Health authorities urged the public to attend A&E only in life-threatening cases.

Police are urging witnesses to share any images or video footage of the incident to assist with investigations.

Home Secretary Mahmood added:

“My first thoughts are with the victims, our brave police and emergency services. I urge people to follow the advice of the emergency services.”