Manchester synagogue attack latest: suspect shot after four people injured in vehicle and stabbing attack at synagogue, police say

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A woman who lives nearby said she has family and friends and the synagogue and rushed out as soon as she heard the police helicopter.

“I’m absolutely distraught,” said Olivia Gold, 57. “It’s Jewish new year as well and this is the holiest day in the calendar - maybe that’s why [the attack happened]. It would’ve been very busy, mainly with the men doing the service. It’s a big shul.”

She added:

This will be devastating for a long time. I just wish they would leave us alone. We’re a quiet community. It’s just horrendous. We don’t harm anybody, we don’t force our views on anybody.

Starmer says he is 'appalled' by attack

Prime minister Keir Starmer will fly home early from a meeting of European leaders to chair a Cobra meeting following the attack at a synagogue in Greater Manchester, it is PA Media is reporting.

Starmer said he was appalled by the attack, adding that the fact it had taken place on the holy day of Yom Kippur makes it “all the more horrific”.

He said:

I’m appalled by the attack at a synagogue in Crumpsall.

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.

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 would seem that 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.”

The area around the synagogue in Crumpsall, north of Manchester, has been swamped by dozens of police vehicles, along with fire and ambulance crews, while the force helicopter hovers overhead.

Streets surrounding the synagogue has been cordoned off with more police cars and vans, sirens blaring, racing down neighbouring roads, PA reports.

Police officers dressed in black combat fatigues and carrying machine guns could also be seen inside the cordon outside the synagogue.

An armed police officer with members of the ambulance service at the scene of an incident at Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue in Crumpsall, Manchester. Photograph: Peter Byrne/PA

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 4x4 vehicles and vans carrying plain clothes officers with face coverings were seen leaving the area of the incident at speed.

A Jewish man 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.

A police officer on duty at the cordon near the scene. Photograph: Peter Byrne/PA

Video shared on social media appeared to show police officers pointing guns at someone laying on the ground outside the front of the synagogue.

The armed officers shouted at onlookers 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, PA reports.

Another person was shown lying motionless on the ground outside the synagogue gates with blood near their head.

What we know so far

• Police have shot a suspect after several people were stabbed and a car was driven at members of the public at the Heaton Park Hebrew congregation synagogue in Crumpsall, Greater Manchester Police said.

• The force posted on X saying police were called to the 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.

• Police said four people have suffered injuries caused by a vehicle and stabbings at a synagogue in Crumpsall, north Manchester.

• A cordon has been set up after the incident, and a major road had been closed while officers attended. Paramedics are at the scene.

• Greater Manchester’s mayor, Andy Burnham, said the “immediate danger appears to be over” after reports of a “serious incident”.

• Burnham has told BBC Radio Manchester that “it is believed” that the attacker is dead. However, he says this “is not confirmed” yet.

• Sources say it is being treated as a potential terrorist incident. Counter-terrorism police and MI5, the security service covering the UK, have joined the investigation. Greater Manchester police say Operation Plato was declared, meaning the violence was treated as a potential marauding terrorist attack.

The attack was branded an “appalling attack on the holiest day of the Jewish year” by the Community Security Trust (CST).

The organisation, which monitors antisemitism in the UK, 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.

Burnham: Attacker 'believed' to be dead but says this is 'not confirmed'

Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham has told BBC Radio Manchester that “it is believed” that the attacker is dead.

However, he says this “is not confirmed” yet.

A woman whose husband was inside the synagogue said she was “sick” with worry as they have been unable to make contact with him since the attack, which happened shortly after 9.30am.

“I’m sick,” she said at the police cordon where there was a huge number of emergency service personnel and a police helicopter overhead.

“We’re just waiting for news. I’ve not even got dressed yet, I just ran out in my pyjamas.”

The woman, who did not want to be identified, went to the synagogue at about 9.15am to celebrate Yom Kippur, the “holiest day of the year” for Jewish people, she said.

Her son, who also did not want to be named, said: “We don’t know anything. There’s rumours of a car ramming, a stabbing and a gunshot. It’s terrifying. We’re distraught.”

At least two ambulances were at the scene along with two fire engines and a large number of police vehicles, including several unmarked, while a police helicopter flew overhead.

Members of the Jewish community security trust were manning the police cordon.

Attack being treated as potential terrorist incident - sources

Sources say it is being treated as a potential terrorist incident.

Counter-terrorism police and MI5, the security service covering the UK, have joined the investigation.

Greater Manchester police say Operation Plato was declared, meaning the violence was treated as a potential marauding terrorist attack.

Urgent investigations are underway into the attacker and any motive.

Here are some of the first images we are seeing come through from what has been declared a “major incident” in Crumpsall, north Manchester:

Police officers work at the scene following an incident outside a synagogue, in Manchester. Photograph: Phil Noble/Reuters

Police officers work at the scene following an incident outside a synagogue, in Manchester. Photograph: Phil Noble/Reuters

Manchester synagogue incident
Emergency services at the scene of an incident at Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue in Crumpsall, Manchester. Photograph: Peter Byrne/PA

Police say suspect shot after four people suffered injuries caused by car and stabbings

Greater Manchester Police said a suspect has been shot and four people have suffered injuries caused by a vehicle and stabbings at a synagogue in Crumpsall, north of the city.

The force 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.

GMP declared PLATO and a major incident at 9.37am. 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, 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.

Burnham says people should 'avoid the area' but that 'immediate danger is over'

Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, has told BBC Radio Manchester that is a “serious incident”.

He is advising people to “avoid the area”.

“At the same time, I can give some assurance that the immediate danger appears to be over,” he adds.

He says the incident was dealt with “effectively” by those on site and by Greater Manchester Police.

For context, the incident has taken place at a synagogue on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish religious calendar.

Paramedics at the scene of major incident in Crumpsall

North West Ambulance Service says it is at the scene of a major incident in Crumpsall, north Manchester, following reports of a stabbing at a synagogue.

A statement said:

Following reports of an incident on Middleton Road in Crumpsall, the trust has dispatched resources to the scene.

We are currently assessing the situation and working with other members of the emergency services.

Our priority is to ensure people receive the medical help they need as quickly as possible.

Police respond to incident outside synagogue in Manchester

Police have that they were responding to an incident outside a synagogue in Crumpsall, Greater Manchester.

A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police did not provide further details but Sky News said there were reports of a stabbing at a synagogue.

According to the Manchester Evening News, a cordon has been set up following a “serious incident” in north Manchester and a road has been closed while officers manage the situation.

Paramedics are on the scene, the newspaper added.