Two people were killed and three others seriously injured after a car was driven at pedestrians and a knife attack unfolded outside Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in Crumpsall, Manchester, on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.
The suspected attacker, identified by police as 35-year-old British-Syrian national Jihad Al-Shamie, was shot dead by armed officers after reportedly attempting to force his way into the synagogue.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) later confirmed that the suspect had been wearing a vest resembling an explosive device, sparking bomb disposal measures at the scene.
Timeline of the Attack
The first call to police came at 09:31 BST, with witnesses reporting a car being driven towards pedestrians and a stabbing outside the synagogue. By 09:34, firearms officers had been deployed.
Within minutes, reports of a knife attack on a security guard prompted GMP to declare “Plato”—the national protocol for responding to marauding terrorist attacks.
At 09:38, officers opened fire on the suspect after he ignored warnings and continued to threaten civilians. Footage shared online showed the attacker being shot after attempting to rise again from the ground. Eyewitnesses recalled scenes of panic as worshippers barricaded synagogue doors.
Chava Lewin, who lives next to the synagogue, said: “The second he got out of the car he started stabbing anyone near him. Someone barricaded the door. Everyone is in utter shock.”
Emergency Response
Paramedics arrived at 09:41, treating four victims at the scene. Two were later confirmed dead, while three men remain in hospital with serious injuries—one stabbed, another struck by the car, and a third possibly wounded as officers stopped the attacker.
By 11:15, an Army bomb disposal unit arrived to assess suspicious items on the suspect. Several local hospitals were placed under lockdown, and police cordons remained in place throughout the day as counter-terrorism units worked with GMP.
At 14:14, police confirmed the attacker was dead. Hours later, counter-terrorism police declared the assault a terrorist incident, with two men and a woman arrested on suspicion of commission and preparation of terrorism-related acts.
Witness Accounts
Eyewitnesses described the chaos outside the synagogue. A delivery driver named Gareth told BBC Radio Manchester: “He had a knife and was stabbing the window, trying to get in. Police arrived within seconds. They gave him warnings but he didn’t listen, so they opened fire.”
Another witness, Shah, described seeing the suspect “running with a knife” and “going on the rampage.” Community members credited security staff and bystanders with preventing the suspect from entering the synagogue, where Yom Kippur services were underway.
Political and Community Reaction
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said he was “appalled” by the attack, calling it “all the more horrific” given its timing on Yom Kippur. He cut short a European leaders’ meeting to chair an emergency Cobra session.
At a Downing Street briefing, Starmer said antisemitic hatred was “rising once again” and promised a more visible police presence at synagogues across the UK. “I will do everything in my power to guarantee you the security you deserve,” he pledged.
King Charles and Queen Camilla issued a statement saying they were “deeply shocked and saddened” by the tragedy.
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham praised synagogue security, noting: “Some of the security used by our colleagues in the Jewish community has really played a role here in preventing it being a worse situation.”
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmoud, alongside Burnham and Manchester City Council leader Bev Craig, spoke to reporters later in the day. Mahmoud commended emergency services and vowed to “do whatever it takes” to ensure Jewish community safety.
Terrorism Investigation
At 15:22, Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor confirmed the incident had been declared a terrorist attack. By evening, GMP named the suspect as Jihad Al-Shamie, though formal identification had yet to be completed.
Police said Al-Shamie had no previous Prevent referrals, raising questions about how he avoided the radar of counter-extremism programmes. Two men in their 30s and a woman in her 60s were arrested in connection with the incident and remain in custody.
International Condemnation
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed solidarity, stating: “As I warned at the UN: weakness in the face of terrorism only brings more terrorism.”
Later in the evening, Starmer and his wife, Lady Victoria Starmer—herself Jewish—visited a synagogue in London to express support.
Heightened Security
The attack has sparked urgent security reviews. Additional police units have been deployed to synagogues across the UK, with community leaders warning of heightened antisemitic threats.
Burnham urged resilience, saying: “We must not let them succeed. This community will not be divided by hatred.”
As Manchester mourns two lives lost, police continue investigating the network around Al-Shamie. The attack, striking at the heart of the Jewish community during its most sacred day, has deepened concerns over rising extremism and antisemitism in Britain.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members
