LONDON — At least four people were injured Thursday morning near the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in Manchester after a vehicle was driven toward a crowd and a man was stabbed, Greater Manchester Police reported on social media.
A witness told officers they had seen a car being driven toward members of the public and a man being attacked with a knife. Injuries resulted from both the vehicle impact and stab wounds.
Police Response and Major Incident Declaration
Firearms officers were dispatched to the scene, and police confirmed that one man had been shot and is believed to be the attacker. Authorities declared a major incident and applied a “PLATO” designation, indicating the situation is being treated as a potential marauding terrorist attack.
Attack Occurs on Holiest Day in Judaism
The incident coincided with Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the attack, saying he was “appalled” and describing it as “all the more horrific” due to its timing.
“My thoughts are with the loved ones of all those affected, and my thanks go to the emergency services and all the first responders,” Starmer added in a post to X.
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Investigation Ongoing
Police continue to secure the area and investigate the circumstances surrounding the attack. Authorities have urged the public to avoid the vicinity while the investigation remains active.
