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Authorities are dealing with a “major incident” near a synagogue in northern England after reports emerged of a car being driven towards a crowd and a man being stabbed on the Jewish calendar’s most sacred day.
Police were dispatched to the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in Manchester earlier today at 9.31am local time (6.31pm AEST) and reported that four individuals sustained injuries.
Greater Manchester Police said firearms officers fired shots seven minutes later, hitting one man, believed to be the offender.
“Our priority is to ensure people receive the medical help they need as quickly as possible.”
Law enforcement has “declared PLATO,” a national code used by police and emergency services when responding to potential “marauding terror attacks.” This does not necessarily indicate it has been classified as a terrorist incident.
The UK Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, is returning from a European leaders summit in Copenhagen to lead a meeting of the government’s emergency committee, COBRA.
“I’m appalled by the attack at a synagogue in Crumpsall,” he said, on X.
“The fact that this has taken place on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, makes it all the more horrific.
“My thoughts are with the loved ones of all those affected, and my thanks go to the emergency services and all the first responders.”
Burnham informed BBC Radio Manchester that the “immediate danger appears to be resolved,” commending the police and synagogue security for their swift action.
He said he believed the suspect was dead and issued a message for UK Jews.
“Obviously, what we would all want to recognise is how people in our Jewish community will be feeling right now,” he said.
“It’s Yom Kippur today, as I understand,” Burnham remarked, noting that this likely explains why there were many people near the synagogue, attending the service at the time.
“So we understand this is a situation that probably is linked to the fact that it’s Yom Kippur, you know, a day of celebration for the Jewish community.”
The Community Security Trust, which monitors antisemitism in the UK, said it was working with police and the local Jewish community.
“This appears to be an appalling attack on the holiest day of the Jewish year,” it said, in a post on X.
“We thank the GMP officers and synagogue security who responded immediately to deal with the incident.”
– Reported with Associated Press
