Manchester, 2 October 2025 — What should have been a day of solemn prayer and reflection for Britain’s Jewish community turned into tragedy today when an attack outside the Heaton Park synagogue in north Manchester left two worshippers dead and several others fighting for their lives. The assault, which unfolded on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, is being treated by police as a major incident with possible terrorist links.
How the Attack Unfolded
Greater Manchester Police said emergency calls came in shortly after 9:30 a.m. reporting that a car had driven at pedestrians outside the synagogue on Middleton Road in Crumpsall. Witnesses said the driver then emerged with a knife and began attacking members of the public.
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Armed officers arrived within minutes and confronted the suspect. Despite repeated warnings, they opened fire, and the man was shot. He is believed to be dead, but police have not formally confirmed this due to “suspicious items on his person.” Bomb disposal specialists were deployed after images surfaced of the man with several white cylindrical objects strapped around his waist.
Casualties and Emergency Response
Police confirmed that two people were killed and that three others remain in a serious condition in hospital. Worshippers inside the synagogue were initially locked down for their safety before being evacuated under police guard.
Paramedics reached the scene within ten minutes of the first call, treating victims at the roadside before transferring them to hospital. Several Manchester medical centres were placed on heightened alert.
Images of the Suspect
New Daily Prime has verified still images taken near the synagogue perimeter fence that appear to show the attacker minutes before the incident. The bald-headed man, dressed in dark clothes, can be seen with objects strapped to his waist. The images match footage circulating on social media of police confronting and shooting a man at the same location. Investigators believe the photo was taken on the western side of the synagogue.
Eyewitness Accounts
Worshippers described scenes of panic as the attack unfolded. One eyewitness, Gareth, told BBC Radio Manchester:
“I saw a man bleeding out on the floor and another holding a knife. The police shouted at him a couple of times before opening fire. It all happened so quickly. People were screaming, trying to get to safety.”
The fact the attack came on Yom Kippur has amplified its impact. Known as the Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur is observed with fasting, prayer, and reflection. Many who do not regularly attend synagogue services come together on this day, which is why security is often stepped up.
For many Jewish communities, today’s violence is a painful reminder of the 2019 Halle synagogue attack in Germany, which also took place on Yom Kippur and left two people dead.
Political and Community Reaction
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has cut short his visit to Denmark and will chair an emergency COBRA meeting in London. He condemned the attack, calling it “heinous” and “all the more horrific” for taking place on Yom Kippur. He pledged additional security at synagogues and Jewish institutions across the UK.
King Charles III issued a statement expressing his “deep shock and sadness,” while Mayor Andy Burnham urged calm, stressing that although the immediate danger was over, the city would remain under a heightened security presence. The Community Security Trust (CST), which provides protection for Jewish communities, is working closely with police to reassure and support congregations.
The incident has been declared under Operation Plato, the police protocol for a suspected marauding terrorist attack. Counter-terrorism officers remain at the scene, alongside forensic teams and the bomb disposal unit. Roads around the synagogue remain closed, with residents urged to avoid the area.
While no motive has yet been confirmed, the location, methods, and timing strongly suggest a targeted assault against Manchester’s Jewish community.
As Manchester mourns, national security officials are reviewing protection at places of worship. Additional officers are expected to remain in place across the city through Yom Kippur and beyond.
For some worshippers, who refrain from using phones, television, or social media on this holy day, the reality of today’s tragedy may not be known until nightfall.
This attack, on the most sacred day of the Jewish year, has left families grieving, communities shaken, and a city once again confronting the vulnerability of public life in the face of sudden violence.
