A synagogue in Manchester faced a harrowing 10-minute ordeal when an individual launched a frightening attack on the most sacred day of the Jewish calendar. Police swiftly responded to the Heaton Park synagogue after the incident unfolded this morning during Yom Kippur, a day dedicated to atonement and prayer for the Jewish community.
Following reports of a man driving into pedestrians and carrying out a stabbing, Greater Manchester Police declared a major incident, suspecting a potential terrorist motive. The entire distressing event transpired within a brief 10-minute timeframe, culminating in the suspect being shot by GMP officers just seven minutes after the initial alert.
In a statement, a GMP spokesperson detailed the sequence of events, indicating the arrival of paramedics to tend to injured individuals, with four people sustaining injuries from both the vehicle and stab wounds. Members of the public were urged to avoid the area as authorities continued to manage the situation.
Political figures like Sir Keir Starmer and Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham condemned the “horrific attack,” emphasizing the gravity of the incident on Yom Kippur. Burnham praised the swift and effective response by GMP and the collaborative efforts of the public and security personnel on-site.