What you need to know:
There have been three deaths in a terrorist attack at a synagogue in Crumpsall, Manchester.
A motorist ran into people and then stabbed at least one person.
The suspect was shot by the police and later died of his injuries. Two others have been arrested.
The stabbing was on Jom Kipoer, the holiest Jewish holiday.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer is ‘shocked’ by the attack and announced the commitment of ‘extra police units’ in synagogues.
King Charles and Queen Camilla are “deeply shocked and sad,” said the royal couple in a statement.
The attack took place at the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in Crumpsall, in the administrative area of Greater Manchester. According to the police, synagogue goers and security guards have prevented worse.
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According to the police, a witness saw that a motorist first entered civilians and that a man was then stabbed, probably in his neck. The victims would have fallen through both the stabbing and the collision.
VIDEO: Panic in Manchester after deposits on Synagogue: “He has a bomb!”
Other witnesses are quite shocked by the attack on the synagogue. A local scaffolding builder tells the BBC that there was a lot of commotion. “It was an outright chaos.” Normally, as the witness is called, Mark is a “silent and calm” man, but this incident has made him “quite delivered”.
Local community in Shock: ‘Leave us alone’
People from the neighborhood of the synagogue state that they live in a quiet community. “It’s just horrible,” says a local resident. “Just leave us alone. We don’t want all this.”
The Manchester police reported at the beginning of the afternoon that the suspect was shot. This is the 35-year-old Jihad Al-Shamie, a British citizen of Syrian descent. He later died of his injuries. That could not be confirmed before, because the explosives clearance service investigated suspicious packages on his body.
Around 2.30 pm people heard a loud bang near the synagogue. It was a controlled explosion due to the explosives clearance service. Probably it is about the packages that the suspect had around him. Later in the day the police arrested another two more people.
Witness Gareth and saw how the suspect worked. He initially thought that it was a usual collision and that he was therefore stuck in traffic at the crime scene. When he got closer, he saw that it was wrong and “nerve -racking.” For example, Gareth saw a man ‘bleeding on the floor’. He also saw the suspect, who did not listen to the police. “And so they opened the fire.”
Prime Minister Keir Starmer ‘Shocked’ by attack Synagogue Manchester
Prime Minister Keir Starmer says he is “shocked” by the attack. “The fact that this took place on Jom Kipoer makes it all the more horrible. My thoughts are among the relatives of all affected people. My thanks go to the emergency services and all first aid providers.”
Starmer was in Copenhagen for a top of the European Union, but flew back to the United Kingdom for emergency consultation on the attack. The Prime Minister announced just before departure from Denmark that “extra police units” will be used for synagogues throughout the country.
King Charles and Queen Camilla ‘Sadness’
King Charles and Queen Camilla are “deeply shocked and sad,” said the royal couple in a statement. “Especially on such an important day for the Jewish community. Our thoughts and prayers are for everyone who has been affected by this terrible incident and we are very grateful for the rapid action of the emergency services.”
In a reaction to X, the Israeli embassy in the United Kingdom calls it “disgusting and deeply disturbing that such a violent act can take place on the holiest day of the Jewish calendar.” The embassy thanks the police for her rapid bet and says it will continue to follow the situation.
Yom Kipur
The attack took place on Jom Kipoer, the holiest day on the Jewish religious calendar. Many Jews around the world visit a synagogue on this day.