Deadly Manchester synagogue attack: What we know about victims and attacker

1 month ago 14

Two radical person died and 3 are successful a superior information aft a car was driven into pedestrians and a antheral was stabbed adjacent to a synagogue successful Manchester successful northwest England, United Kingdom, connected Thursday, according to British police.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said constabulary had been deployed to synagogues crossed the state successful effect to the attack, which took spot connected Yom Kippur, the holiest time of the Jewish calendar.

What happened?

Witnesses told constabulary they saw a car being rammed into radical walking connected the thoroughfare adjacent to the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue successful Crumpsall, an outer suburb of Manchester. They besides reported a antheral being stabbed.

Greater Manchester Police officers were called to the incidental tract astatine 9:31am (08:31 GMT) by a subordinate of the public.

“GMP declared a large incidental astatine 9.37am. Shots were fired by Greater Manchester Police firearms officers astatine 9.38am,” the constabulary stated.

Paramedics arrived astatine the country astatine 9:41am (08:41 GMT) and were tending to members of the public.

The National Health Service (NHS) North West Ambulance Service said successful a connection that its crews had treated patients astatine the scene, and critically injured radical had been transported to hospital.

The onslaught took spot connected Yom Kippur – the Jewish time of atonement erstwhile galore members of the Jewish community, including those who are not predominant synagogue attendees, sojourn synagogues to commune and repent.

30 AM, erstwhile   a witnesser  said the assailant drove a car   astatine  radical   and past    stabbed someone. Police past    changeable  the suspected attacker. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)Members of the nationalist and congregants are seen arsenic constabulary and different exigency responders be the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue [Christopher Furlong/Getty Images]

Where successful Manchester did the onslaught instrumentality place?

The onslaught took spot astatine Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue, which is located successful the northbound Manchester territory of Crumpsall.

Crumpsall is an outer suburb, location to astir 18,000 people, according to Manchester City Council. Trams and autobus services provender from the suburb to the metropolis centre, 3 miles (5km) away.

There has been a Jewish congregation successful Crumpsall since 1935. The ample Ashkenazi Orthodox synagogue was completed successful 1967.

What bash we cognize astir the victims?

According to the police, 2 radical died successful the attack, portion 3 others person been earnestly injured. Their identities person not been revealed.

A subordinate   of the nationalist   is helped from the country   of a stabbing incidental  astatine  Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue, successful  Crumpsall, Manchester, England, Thursday Oct. 2, 2025. (Peter Byrne/PA via AP)An aged pistillate is helped from the country of a stabbing incidental astatine the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue [Peter Byrne/PA via AP]

What bash we cognize astir the attacker?

Police said they had changeable the attacker but did not merchandise details astir his identity.

“One antheral has been shot, believed to beryllium the offender,” the Greater Manchester Police wrote successful an X post.

The constabulary added that the attacker is believed to person died. “It cannot presently beryllium confirmed owed to information issues surround[ing] suspicious items connected his person,” it stated successful an X post.

How has the British authorities responded?

Starmer near a gathering with European leaders successful the Danish capital, Copenhagen, aboriginal to woody with the incident.

“I’m already capable to accidental that further constabulary assets are being deployed to synagogues crossed the country, and we volition bash everything to support our Jewish assemblage safe,” Starmer said.

In an X post, Starmer besides wrote: “The information that this has taken spot connected Yom Kippur, the holiest time successful the Jewish calendar, makes it each the much horrific.”

Hamish Falconer, a subordinate of the British parliament from Starmer’s Labour Party, wrote successful an X post: “I’m horrified to perceive of this incidental astatine a synagogue I’ve been arrogant to visit. My thoughts are with everyone affected.”

Armed constabulary  officers basal   with their weapons wrong  a Police cordon adjacent   Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue successful  Crumpsall, northbound  Manchester, connected  October 2, 2025, pursuing  an incidental  astatine  the synagogue.Armed constabulary officers basal with their weapons wrong a constabulary cordon adjacent Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue [AFP]

What is the concern connected the crushed now?

The Greater Manchester Police person asked members of the nationalist to enactment distant from the country portion the constabulary negociate the situation.

They added that a ample fig of radical who had gathered to worship successful the synagogue initially remained wrong the premises for safety, but person present been evacuated.

The constabulary said they “declared PLATO” pursuing the attack. This is simply a codeword utilized by the British constabulary to notation to an incidental that is being investigated arsenic a Marauding Terrorist Attack (MTA), 1 successful which attackers rapidly determination done a location, aiming to termination oregon injure arsenic galore radical arsenic possible. This does not mean the incidental has been declared a violent attack.

The constabulary person opened a nationalist portal, a Casualty Bureau for radical to inquire astir their household and friends who whitethorn person been astatine the scene. The portal besides asks individuals who were progressive successful the incidental and are present safe, to taxable a study online.

Have determination been different anti-Semitic attacks successful the UK?

Yes. Instances of anti-Semitism person been connected the emergence successful the UK recently.

Community Security Trust (CST), a UK-based foundation for the payment of British Jews, reported 3,528 instances of anti-Semitism successful 2024, the 2nd highest recorded by CST successful a azygous calendar year. Nineteen of the instances recorded successful 2024 progressive harm to synagogues.

The highest was successful 2023, erstwhile 4,296 instances were recorded.

Since the onset of Israel’s warfare connected Gaza, which began pursuing a Hamas-led onslaught connected service outposts and villages successful confederate Israel connected October 7, 2023, an uptick successful anti-Semitic and Islamophobic incidents has been reported globally.

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