(LONDON) — A peaceful day of prayer turned into a scene of terror in northern England on Thursday when a violent attack outside a synagogue left two people dead and three others fighting for their lives, according to police.
The attack targeted the Jewish community on Yom Kippur, the most sacred and solemn day of the year. The suspected attacker is also believed to be dead after being shot by police officers at the scene.
A Rapid and Chaotic Attack
The Greater Manchester Police department said they received a frantic call from a member of the public just after 9:30 a.m. The caller reported seeing a car being driven toward people outside the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in the Crumpsall area, and that a man had been stabbed.
Armed police units rushed to the scene and, within minutes, opened fire. “One man has been shot, believed to be the offender,” police stated in an update on social media.
The situation remained tense for hours due to concerns that the suspect may have been wearing an explosive device. A bomb disposal team was dispatched to safely secure the area.
A “Marauding Terror Attack”
In the immediate aftermath, police activated “Operation Plato,” a national emergency protocol used for a “marauding terror attack.” This label signifies a fast-moving, multi-stage incident, though authorities have not yet officially declared it a terrorist incident.
Initially, four victims were reported, but that number was later updated to five. The victims suffered injuries from both the vehicle and stab wounds.
National Outrage on a Sacred Day
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he was “appalled” by the violence. He cut short his trip to a European leaders’ summit in Copenhagen to return to London and chair an emergency government meeting.
“The fact that this has taken place on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, makes it all the more horrific,” Starmer said in a statement.
He also announced that additional police officers would be deployed to synagogues across the UK to reassure the community.
Dave Rich from the Community Security Trust, a charity that monitors antisemitism, emphasized the significance of the day. “It’s a very solemn day and synagogues across the country will be full throughout the day,” he said, adding that significant security measures are always in place for major Jewish festivals.
This tragic event brings back painful memories for Manchester, which was the site of Britain’s deadliest attack in recent years—the 2017 suicide bombing at an Ariana Grande concert that killed 22 people.
श्रवण कुमार ओड़ जालोर जिले के सक्रिय पत्रकार और सामाजिक विषयों पर लिखने वाले लेखक हैं। वे “जालोर न्यूज़” के माध्यम से जनहित, संस्कृति और स्थानीय मुद्दों को उजागर करते हैं। उनकी पत्रकारिता का उद्देश्य है—सच दिखाना और समाज की आवाज़ बनना।
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