Hero security guard is ‘among victims of Manchester synagogue attack’ as Burnham praises them for preventing ‘worse situation’: Live updates

Two people have died after the attack outside the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue, Middleton Road, Crumpsall, police have confirmed.

A third person, a man believed to be the offender, was shot by GMP Firearms Officers and is also believed to be deceased.

Police say officers cannot yet confirm this due to ‘safety issues surround suspicious items on his person’.

The bomb disposal unit has been called and is now at the scene.

Three other members of the public are in a serious condition, GMP added.

Dave Rich of the Community Security Trust, a charity that monitors antisemitism in the UK, has said today’s attack came at a time of ‘significant security’ on the holiest day of the Jewish calendar.

He 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.’

A Greater Manchester Police spokesperson has praised the ‘quick response’ of a witness to the attack which allowed police to take ‘swift action’ to prevent the offender ‘from entering the synagogue’.

The spokesperson said: ‘We know today’s horrifying attack, on the Jewish community’s holiest day, will have caused significant shock and fear throughout all of our communities.

‘We are grateful to the member of the public whose quick response to what they witnessed allowed our swift action, and as a result the offender was prevented from entering the synagogue.

‘We remain in direct contact with all synagogues across Greater Manchester to provide reassurance and this will continue for as long as needed.’

Police urged anyone with images or footage of the incident to refrain from circulating them on social media but to share them directly with the force.

Eyewitnesses told how ‘hero’ rabbi Danni Walker barricaded the doors of the synagogue to prevent the attacker from entering.

Three people remain in a ‘serious condition’ in hospital following the car and knife attack that has led to the deaths of two members of the public.

‘A large number of people worshipping at the synagogue at the time of the incident were held inside while the immediate area was made safe, but have since been evacuated,’ they add.

Earlier Greater Manchester Police confirmed the suspected attacker is also believed to be dead.

Those in a ‘serious condition’ are believed to have been taken to local hospitals, which are currently subject to tighter security measures.

It was previously reported that several local hospitals were on ‘lockdown’.

Officers from counter-terror police are searching nearby houses in the wake of the fatal attack at the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue.

Army personnel have also been spotted at the scene as investigators begin tracing the movements of the attacker.

A short distance away from the synagogue in Crumpsall police officers armed with Heckler & Koch machine guns stood guard at the head of a path, between houses, leading up to the back of the synagogue.

Dramatic footage has emerged showing the moment armed police shot a suspected knifeman following a ‘marauding terror attack’ at a synagogue.

Two members of the public have died after a man ‘armed with a bomb’ rammed a car into the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue at 9.31am today.

The attack, 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’.

The rabbi of the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in Crumpsall is understood to have barricaded the doors to the building in a heroic effort to save the lives of members of his congregation.

Rabbi Danni Walker was seen after the attack with blood on his white clothing.

The attacker, who is believed dead, was seen by eyewitnesses making stabbing motions through a window as he tried to force his way inside the building.

Eyewitness Chava Lewin, who lives next door to the synagogue, said: ‘My friend saw him [the attacker] crash the car near the synagogue.

‘At first she thought he’d had a heart attack. Then he got out and started stabbing everyone he could get to.

‘Rabbi Walker was incredibly calm, he shut the doors to the synagogue to stop him getting inside.

‘He barricaded everyone inside. He is a hero, this could have been even worse.

‘Some of the congregation were inside at the time but others were still arriving.

‘We saw someone being resuscitated in the courtyard. It’s so scary, we just don’t feel safe now.

‘To think someone would choose today of all days to attack us is horrifying.’

Heartbreaking pictures from the scene of today’s car and knife attack outside the Heaton Park Synagogue show a community in mourning.

Two people have died, with the attacked also believed to be deceased.

The King has said he and the Queen were ‘deeply shocked and saddened’ by the attack at Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue this morning.

He said: ‘My wife and I have been deeply shocked and saddened to learn of the horrific attack in Manchester, especially on such a significant day for the Jewish community.

‘Our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by this appalling incident and we greatly appreciate the swift actions of the emergency services.’

Local residents have praised police for their response to the ‘horrendous’ incident in Manchester this morning.

Olivia Gold said she had friends who attend the synagogue.

She said: ‘It would have been very, very busy. I live around the corner, but I’ve walked around to give support. It’s now just police doing what they do.

‘I came out to see what was happening because I heard three helicopters.

‘It’s just horrendous. We’re a quiet community, just leave us alone. We don’t want any of this.

‘It’s just four people who have been injured – thankfully no one was killed as far as I know.

‘I think the response by police has been absolutely brilliant. They got here really, really quickly.’

One person is reported to have died and another is said to be fighting for their life in hospital following the attack on the synagogue in Crumpsall.

It is understood the person to have died is a member of the public.

Greater Manchester Police said it was called to an incident in Middleton Road, on Thursday where a man – who is believed to be the offender – was shot by firearms officers.

Police said it had ‘declared Plato’ – the national code-word used by police and emergency services when responding to a ‘marauding terror attack’.

Footage shared on social media appeared to show members of the public shouting to firearms officers that the suspect had a bomb strapped to him.

Several local hospitals are reported to be ‘on lockdown’ following the attack at Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue this morning.

At least four people have been injured in the incident and taken to local hospitals.

Posts online suggest both the Salford Royal Hospital and Oldham Hospital are currently subject to the security measures.

A rabbi has described the attack at the synagogue 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.’

The Jewish community has reacted with shock after four people were stabbed outside a synagogue in Manchester.

A car was driven at a crowd and a man was stabbed outside the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue at 9.31am today on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, before the suspect was shot by police.

A Jewish man at the scene 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.’

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

It is being reported that the suspected knifeman who injured four people outside the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in Manchester today may have been ‘armed with a bomb’.

Video footage circulating on social media has shown how police armed with assault rifles gunned down the male suspect.

Above the sound of car alarms ringing out, two officers were heard shouting at people inside the worship centre to ‘stay in, stay inside’, shortly after shooting the alleged attacker.

Then, as one officer yells at stunned witnesses to get away, the armed cops shockingly shouts: ‘He has a bomb, go away. Get back.’

A bomb disposal unit is currently at the scene.

An eyewitness to the incident in Manchester today has said the knifeman tried to force his way into the synagogue before he was shot by armed police.

Speaking to BBC Radio Manchester, the delivery driver, who gave his name as Gareth, said: ‘We was just driving up the road, doing our normal deliveries.

‘Next minute, we were held back in a little bit of traffic, and we could see a car had crashed. So we just thought it were a normal collision.

‘We got a big closer. We seen a guy bleeding out on the floor. He was just basically unconscious on the floor, presumed, obviously, dead. And then literally, there was [another] a guy in front of the car. He just lay on the floor. We couldn’t really see him.

‘And then there was a few people stood in the road. Somebody shouted something in the school or the synagogue, or what [ever] it was.

‘And then, as we looked over, the guy had a knife, and he was just stabbing the window trying to get in the [synagogue].

‘And then within seconds the police arrived. They gave him a couple of warnings. He didn’t listen, so they opened fire. He went down on the floor, and then he started getting back up, and then they shot him again.’

Security at synagogues across the country will be deployed to protect Jewish communities, the Prime Minister has announced.

‘Additional police assets’ will be deployed, Sir Keir Starmer said as he flew back to the UK to chair a Cobra meeting.

He added: ‘We will do everything to keep our Jewish community safe.’

The Prime Minister said: ‘The attack in Manchester this morning is absolutely shocking, and all of our thoughts are with those affected.

‘I am on my way back to London. When I arrive, I will chair an emergency Cobra meeting. I’m already able to say that additional police assets are being deployed to synagogues across the country, and we will do everything to keep our Jewish community safe.

‘I’ve spoken to Mark Gardner of the CST [Community Security Trust], and Andy Burnham, the mayor of Manchester.

‘I want to thank the emergency services for the speed of their response.’

Police sources have told the Mail it is ‘too early’ to determine the attacker’s motive.

At least four people have been injured after a suspect drove a car at and stabbed members of the public outside the synagogue.

The events took place on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the year in the Jewish calendar.

The air ambulance remains at the scene of the attack outside a synagogue in Crumpsall, Manchester this afternoon.

It has been spotted flying and hovering overhead, but has not been used, it is understood.

Kemi Badenoch described the incident in Greater Manchester as a ‘vile and disgusting attack’.

The Conservative leader told BBC Radio Bristol: “It does look like an outrageous attack on the Jewish community on their holiest day, Yom Kippur.

‘I think it is a vile and disgusting attack. I know that many Jewish people in our country feel that they’re no longer safe and my heart goes out to the people who have been hurt by this, and everyone who’s been affected.’

She added: ‘I want to say to Jewish people all around our country that you belong here. Britain is a country which will look after you.

‘We need to make sure that the rise in antisemitism that we’re seeing in our country is quelled completely.’

The local MP for Bury South, close to the constituency where the attack took place, is being updated in direct communication with Greater Manchester Police, he has said.

Christian Wakefield MP posted on social media and said: ‘Aware of this incident and in direct communication with GMP – I’m getting more details as they’re released.

‘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.’

Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham confirmed one victim appeared to be a security guard who had been attacked with a knife, and said they could have prevented a ‘worse situation’.

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.’

As a reminder, police confirmed earlier that the suspect did not manage to enter the synagogue itself.

The force added officers believe the suspect was working alone.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has said she is ‘horrified’ by the attack in Manchester today.

She 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.’

She added on X, formerly Twitter, that she was ‘being kept updated’ by Greater Manchester Police and urged the public to ‘follow the advice of the emergency services’.

The Prime Minister will fly home early from a European summit in the wake of the synagogue attack.

He will return from Copenhagen to chair a Cobra meeting following the attack at a synagogue in Greater Manchester, it is understood.

A bomb disposal unit has arrived at the scene of the attack.

A white lorry marked ‘Bomb Disposal’ was seen pulling up and has gone behind the cordon outside the synagogue.

A Jewish man has said there is ‘no place’ for Jews in Britain as he reacted to the horror of the attack at the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue.

He 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.’

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.

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.

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

Another 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.

Sir Keir Starmer has said he was ‘appalled’ at the attack at the synagogue in Crumpsall, adding: ‘The fact that this has taken place on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, makes it all the more horrific.’

In a statement, the Prime Minister added: ‘My thoughts are with the loved ones of all those affected, and my thanks go to the emergency services and all the first responders.’

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

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

Giving more details of the injured in this morning’s incident, Greater Manchester Police have said a security guard was stabbed.

Three other people were injured either by the car being driven at the public or after being stabbed, it is reported.

Four people have been injured after a car was driven at members of the public and a man was stabbed outside a synagogue before the suspect was shot by police.

Officers were called to the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue at 9.31am today on the Jewish holy day of Yom Kippur.

A major incident has been declared by the police and ambulance service and police said it had ‘declared Plato’ – the national code-word used by police and emergency services when responding to a ‘marauding terror attack’.

Photographs from the scene in Greater Manchester following the incident this morning show a very large emergency service response remain on scene.

Among those present are paramedics and armed police officers.

Greater Manchester Police declared ‘PLATO’ at today’s incident at a synagogue in Crumpsall.

The term refers to a UK national response plan for a marauding terrorist attack (MTA) involving a fast-moving, violent incident with an active threat to the public and responders.

This does not mean the incident was a terror attack, which will be assessed by police.

The events at Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue fall on the holiest day of the Jewish religious calendar.

This evening marks Yom Kippur, with many Jewish people choosing to attend synagogues and fast throughout the day.

Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham has said that ‘the immediate danger is over’ after the incident in Crumpsall this morning.

Burnham told BBC Radio Manchester: ‘It is a serious incident.

‘I can give some reassurance immediately to people that that immediate danger appears to be over and Greater Manchester Police have dealt with it very quickly.’

Greater Manchester Police has just released more details of an apparent attack at a synagogue in Crumpsall this morning.

A spokesperson 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 9.41 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.’

Four people are reported to have been injured in the incident at a synagogue in Crumpsall, Manchester.

A car was initially driven at members of the public and one person was stabbed, police have said.

Paramedics are still treating victims at the scene, the force said.

A suspect at the scene of the stabbings in Manchester has been shot, Greater Manchester Police has said.

The force did not give any details as to the condition of the suspect.

A spokesperson said they did not gain access to the inside of the synagogue and was shot by an armed police officer.

The North West Ambulance Service confirmed a major incident has been declared in Crumpsall, Manchester.

In a statement a spokesperson 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.’

There is a ‘major incident’ unfolding in Manchester after reports of ‘multiple people’ being stabbed at a synagogue.

The Mail will bring you all the latest information as soon as we have it.