Tragedy Strikes on Yom Kippur: Attack Outside Manchester Synagogue

A tragic incident unfolded outside the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in Manchester, northern England, on the morning of Yom Kippur, resulting in two fatalities and three serious injuries. A car reportedly plowed into pedestrians, followed by a stabbing, CNN has reported.

The attack, described by authorities as deliberate, saw the suspected assailant shot dead by armed officers. The car ramming and subsequent stabbing prompted a swift response from emergency services, who arrived promptly on the scene. Worshippers inside the synagogue were evacuated safely, and Greater Manchester Police declared a PLATO protocol, deploying armed officers.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer labeled the attack as particularly heinous due to its occurrence on Yom Kippur. He announced further security measures, including additional police presence at synagogues nationwide, and cut short a diplomatic trip to return to the UK and address the situation. Local hospitals went into lockdown as a precaution.

(With inputs from agencies.)