A man was shot by police today after reportedly carrying out an attack at a synagogue in Manchester on Yom Kippur, the holiest holiday in the Jewish calendar.
Police called shortly after 0930
Officers were called at 0931 with reports of a car being driven at members of the public outside of a synagogue and a stabbing.
Greater Manchester Police consequently declared Operation Plato – the national response for a ‘suspected marauding attack’. They also declared a major incident.
Suspect shot by police
Moments later firearms officers opened fire, shooting the suspected assailant who is now believed to be deceased.
Paramedics arrived on scene shortly after and confirmed that four members of the public were injured by both vehicle and stab wounds. Two victims have since died.
‘Plato’ doesn’t itself confirm a terror incident, but it is being investigated
Counterterrorism police and MI5 have become involved with an investigation, reportedly treating the incident as a potential terror attack.
Political response
Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham told BBC Radio Manchester that the public should avoid the area, adding that the immediate danger appears to be over.
The Prime Minister, who is currently on his way back from a delegation in Denmark took to X.
Conservative Leader, Kemi Badenoch, described the attack to BBC Radio Bristol as a “vile and disgusting attack.”
Bomb disposal on scene and local amenities on lockdown
A bomb disposal unit has arrived to the scene in Manchester, due to speculation that the suspect was wearing a vest that eye-witnesses described as having wires. Whether the vest was a decoy or a legitimate threat is not yet known. Police were captured on video telling the public, ‘He’s got a bomb. Go away.’
All synagogues in Greater Manchester have boosted their security and several hospitals, including the Royal Oldham Hospital, Fairfield General and Royal Salford Hospital have gone into lockdown after reports that the suspect was carrying a bomb. The Prime Minister has committed police assets to synagogues across the country amid the incident.
