The incident unfolded Thursday morning at Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in Crumpsall, an area with a large Jewish community about four miles north of the city center. The BBC reports that Greater Manchester Police (GMP) were called at 09:31 BST to reports of a car hitting members of the public and a stabbing. By 09:37, a major incident had been declared.
According to police, officers fired on a man at 09:38 who they believe was the attacker. He died at the scene. GMP confirmed two other fatalities and said three additional people remain in serious condition with injuries caused by both the vehicle and stabbings.
Jewish worshippers inside the synagogue were kept in place until the surrounding area was secured and have since been evacuated. The attack has been declared a terrorist incident.
Eyewitness Gareth Tonge, who was making deliveries nearby, described seeing “a man bleeding out on the floor” and another trying to break into a building with a knife. “Within seconds, the police arrived, they gave him a couple of warnings, he didn’t listen so they opened fire,” Tonge told the BBC. He said the suspect went down, tried to get back up, and was shot again. “It was nerve-racking to see,” he added.
Bomb disposal teams were also called, and shortly after 1:20 pm, a controlled explosion was carried out within the police cordon. Helicopters, including one linked to SAS counter-terrorism operations, circled the area as police, fire, and ambulance units responded.
Video and images verified by the BBC show a man matching the suspect’s description being shot by officers near the perimeter of the synagogue. Police have stressed there is no further threat to the public, but continue to urge people to avoid the area.
The attack took place on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in Judaism.
