Manchester, UK — October 2, 2025 — Two people were killed and three others injured after a man drove a car into pedestrians and launched a knife attack outside a synagogue in Manchester. Police confirmed the suspected attacker was shot dead by armed officers during the incident, which unfolded on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.
The attack took place outside the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation in Crumpsall, a neighborhood with a large Jewish community. Witnesses described chaotic scenes as worshippers gathered inside the synagogue for prayers.
According to police, the suspect rammed a vehicle into members of the public before exiting with a knife and attempting to force entry into the synagogue courtyard. Congregants barricaded doors as the assailant tried to smash windows to get inside. Officers at the scene issued verbal warnings before firing shots when the man ignored commands and continued his assault.
Eyewitnesses said the attacker was initially brought down but tried to rise again before being shot a second time. Bomb disposal teams were deployed over fears the suspect was wearing an explosive vest, delaying official confirmation of his death.
Local residents described panic and confusion. One delivery driver said he thought he was approaching a car crash before realizing people had been stabbed. Another witness said the man “went on a rampage,” targeting anyone nearby.
Inside the synagogue, Rabbi Daniel Walker and community leaders guided worshippers to safety, keeping them calm until the area was secured. Police later evacuated those inside once they deemed the scene safe.
Authorities declared a major incident and activated Operation Plato, the UK’s emergency protocol for marauding terrorist attacks. Security was tightened at Jewish sites across Manchester and London, with armed patrols deployed as a precaution.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer, returning early from an overseas trip, called the attack “appalling” and emphasized that “targeting a synagogue on the holiest day of the Jewish year is an attack on the entire community.” Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham said the suspect appeared to have acted alone and reassured residents that the situation was contained.
The identity of the attacker has not yet been released. Counterterrorism police are leading the investigation to determine whether the attack was terror-motivated and whether the synagogue was deliberately targeted because of its religious significance.
The assault comes amid a documented rise in antisemitic incidents in the UK. Jewish leaders said the attack had left the community “deeply shaken” but praised the swift response of police, which they said likely prevented greater loss of life.
