The Jewish community has reacted with shock after four people were stabbed outside a synagogue in Manchester.
A car was driven at a crowd and a man was stabbed outside the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue at 9.31am today on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, before the suspect was shot by police.
Staff from the Community Security Trust (CST), a charity which protects the Jewish community, arrived on the scene shortly after the attack.
A spokesperson said: ‘CST is working with police and the local Jewish community following a serious incident at a synagogue in north Manchester.
‘This appears to be an appalling attack on the holiest day of the Jewish year.
‘We thank the GMP officers and synagogue security who responded immediately to deal with the incident.’
Dave Rich of the CST said: ‘Yom Kippur is the holiest day of the Jewish year.
‘It’s a very solemn day and synagogues across the country will be full throughout the day.
‘There’s always a significant security operation in place between police and CST across the Jewish community on all major Jewish festivals.’
A Jewish man at the scene said: ‘It is the holiest day of the year and we get this.
‘There is no place for Jews in Britain anymore. It’s over.’
More members of the community gathered at the scene, with some in tears and embracing one another.
Sir Keir Starmer, who will now fly home early from a meeting of European leaders to chair Cobra, said he was ‘appalled’, adding: ‘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.’
The Prime Minister confirmed that ‘additional police assets’ would be in place at synagogues across the country in the wake of the attack, adding: ‘We will do everything to keep our Jewish community safe.’
A major incident has been declared and ambulance service and police have enacted ‘Plato’ – the national code-word used by the emergency services when responding to a ‘marauding terror attack’.
Video shared on social media appears to show armed police officers pointing guns at someone laying on the ground. The officers scream at onlookers ‘he’s got a bomb’ and to ‘get back’ and ‘move on’.
The person on the ground is seen starting to get up before there is the sound of a gunshot and they fall to the ground. Another person is also shown lying motionless on the ground outside the synagogue gates with blood around their head.
A bomb disposal unit is at the scene alongside dozens of police vehicles and fire and ambulance crews.
Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham said one victim appeared to be a security guard who had been attacked with a knife. He said ‘it is believed’ the suspect was dead, but this has not been confirmed.
‘I can give some assurance that the immediate danger appears to be over,’ he added.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said: ‘Police were called to the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue, on Middleton Road, Crumpsall, at 9.31am by a member of the public, stating he had witnessed a car being driven towards members of the public and one man had been stabbed.’
The force said it declared a major incident at 9.37am.
The statement continued: ‘Shots were fired by Greater Manchester Police firearms officers at 9.38am. One man has been shot, believed to be the offender. Paramedics arrived at the scene at 9.41am and are tending to members of the public.
‘(There are) currently four members of the public with injuries caused by both the vehicle and stab wounds. Members of the public are asked to avoid the area while the police continue to deal with the incident.’
Salford Royal, Fairfield General, Rochdale Infirmary, and the Royal Oldham hospitals are all ‘on lockdown’ after the incident.
Streets surrounding the synagogue have been cordoned off with police cars and vans, sirens blaring, racing down neighbouring roads.
Police officers dressed in black combat fatigues and carrying machine guns could also be seen inside the cordon outside the synagogue.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said: ‘I am horrified by the news of an attack at a synagogue in Manchester today, on the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.
‘My first thoughts are with the victims, our brave police and emergency services.’
Christian Wakeford, Labour MP for neighbouring Bury South, which has a large Jewish community, said: ‘For this to happen on Yom Kippur is horrendous, my thoughts and prayers are with those affected, I know how worried my Jewish community will be regarding this attack.’
A Jewish man, among a group of shocked onlookers at the cordon, said his wife and daughter and other members of the congregation were still inside the synagogue.
A number of black, unmarked police 4×4 vehicles and vans carrying plain clothes officers with face coverings were seen leaving the area of the incident at speed.
Locals are being urged to avoid the scene on Middleton Road, while the road is closed between Wilton Road and Crumpsall Lane.
North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) said resources had been sent to the scene.
A spokesman said: ‘Our priority is to ensure people receive the medical help they need as quickly as possible.’
It comes as members of the Jewish community observe Yom Kippur.
In terms of importance in the religious year he said it is similar to Christmas Day for Christians, but is a day of solemnity and fasting rather than celebration.
