Key Details Up to Now?

What Happened

At 9.31am on Thursday, a member of the public called the police, claiming they had witnessed “an automobile moving at members of the public, and one man had been stabbed” in front of Heaton Park Shul, a temple in Crumpsall, Manchester, where people had gathered to mark Yom Kippur, the highest holy day in the Jewish faith.

By 9.37am, a major incident had been designated by police and labeled Operation Plato, the code given for “marauding terrorist attacks”.

At 9.38am, a man, believed to be the attacker, was fired upon by specialist units. Ambulance crews got to the site at 9:41 AM, where several individuals were given care for wounds sustained from puncture wounds and the suspect’s vehicle. A bomb disposal team was dispatched subsequently.

At 11.15am, it was announced that two of the injured people had succumbed to their injuries, as had the attacker, who was shot.

In the afternoon at 3 PM, the national counter-terrorism lead designated the attack a terrorist incident and stated that two arrests had been carried out in relation to it.

Scene of the Incident?

The attack took place outside the gates of Heaton Park Shul, an Ashkenazi Orthodox synagogue established over five decades ago on Middleton Street in north Manchester. Crumpsall, similar to adjacent communities, has one of the largest Jewish communities in northern England. The synagogue was expected to be crowded due to it being Yom Kippur. In common with numerous temples nationwide, it had security outside made up of skilled community members.

Identity of the Perpetrator?

An image of the individual, snapped moments earlier, has appeared in news outlets. However, up to now, no further details of him have emerged. During his statement, the lead investigator mentioned that officials think they were aware of who was responsible but due to “security concerns on site” they were could not verify currently.

The Significance of Yom Kippur?

The Day of Atonement is the most sacred occasion in the Hebrew liturgical cycle. The term means “day for repentance” and often entails members of the Jewish faith going without sustenance to “engage in spiritual contemplation” and strengthen their connection with the divine. Given its supreme status, it is observed by the majority of Jews, as well as people who are not devout practitioners the religion.

What Has Been the Reaction?

The national leader commented he was “appalled by the attack” and the fact that it happened on Yom Kippur “intensifies the outrage”. He cut short his trip to the UK after being abroad, where he was set to meet with European leaders.

A senior political figure called it “vile and disgusting” and criticized “growing hostility toward Jewish people that we’re seeing in our country”.

The regional leader said he would “be alongside the Jewish community at this time and will continue efforts to support them”. The area's representative stated on a broadcast that “we must ensure these evil people do not damage our community”, and asserted that “overall community relations are strong between diverse populations and faith-based organizations” in the area.