Shock in Jewish community after four stabbed outside synagogue

Jewish security teams and armed police have been called in to protect synagogues across the UK after four people were stabbed outside a synagogue in Manchester.

At least two people have died after a knifeman ‘armed with a bomb’ rammed a car into the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue at 9.31am today and went on a rampage.

The bloody assault, which took place on the Jewish holy day of Yom Kippur, has been declared a ‘Plato’ incident – the national code-word used by police and emergency services when responding to a ‘marauding terror attack’. 

It has rocked Britain’s Jewish community, leaving people in shock and fearing for their safety.  

One Jewish man, who was at the scene of today’s onslaught, 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.’ 

Staff from the Community Security Trust (CST), a charity which protects the Jewish community, arrived on the scene shortly after the attack.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer 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.’

This morning’s suspected terror attack comes amid a surge of anti-Semitism across the UK, which have seen reports of racially-motivated attacks soar. 

It’s prompted concerns of fresh attacks, with a rabbi describing today’s atrocity as ‘every Jewish person’s worst nightmare’.

Rabbi Jonathan Romain, emeritus rabbi of Maidenhead Synagogue and current head of the Rabbinic Court of Great Britain, said he felt ‘appalled’ by what had happened.

He said: ‘This is every Rabbi’s or every Jewish person’s worst nightmare.

‘Not only is this a sacred day, the most sacred in the Jewish calendar, but it’s also a time of mass gathering, and the time when the Jewish community, however religious or irreligious, gathers together.’

He added: ‘This will obviously heighten the fears that many Jews have had, that political violence would spill over into religious hatred.’

CST said it was now ‘working with police’ to try and reassure the city’s Jewish community.

‘This appears to be an appalling attack on the holiest day of the Jewish year,’ a spokesman for the security group added.

‘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.’

According to its Facebook page, Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation is a large Ashkenazi Orthodox synagogue, which was formally founded in 1935.

Rabbi Daniel Walker currently heads the congregation.

More members of the community gathered at the scene, with some in tears and embracing one another. 

Celebrity Judge Rob Rinder said: ‘On the holiest day of the year we are attacked at a Manchester synagogue. Our children walk to school behind barbed wire protected by guns. Yet some still answer this atrocity with “what about…” 

‘This is my country, the sanctuary my grandfather found after surviving the Holocaust, promising freedom under the rule of law. Today I pray for the victims, thank the brave who responded and wonder if that promise is fading. 

‘A community this small cannot stand alone. If you believe in Britain (wherever you’re from & whatever your faith) you must stand with us.’

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.’ 

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.