Four injured in attack at Manchester synagogue
Greater Manchester Police have closed off a road in Crumpsall
Last updated 2nd Oct 2025
A major incident has been declared after a man reportedly drove a car at people outside a synagogue on Middleton Road in Crumpsall.
Four people have been injured.
Greater Manchester Police said a man - who is believed to be the offender - was shot by firearms officers.
Police said it had "declared Plato" - the national code-word used by police and emergency services when responding to a "marauding terror attack".
Footage shared on social media appeared to show members of the public shouting to firearms officers that the suspect had a bomb strapped to him.
A white lorry marked "bomb disposal" later arrived at the scene and went behind the cordon outside the synagogue.
Police called at 09:31 by a member of the public
In a statement, Greater Manchester Police said:
We’re responding to an incident outside a synagogue on Middleton Road in Manchester.
"Police were called to the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue, on Middleton Road, Crumpsall, at 9.31am by a member of the public, stating he had witnessed a car being driven towards members of the public, and one man had been stabbed.
"Firearms officers were deployed at 9.34am as police continued to receive further reports from members of the public that a security guard had been attacked with a knife.
"GMP declared PLATO and a major incident at 9.37am.
"Shots were fired by Greater Manchester Police firearms officers at 9.38am. One man has been shot, believed to be the offender.
"Paramedics arrived at the scene at 9.41 and are tending to members of the public, currently four members of the public with injuries caused by both the vehicle and stab wounds.
"Members of the public are asked to avoid the area while the police continue to deal with the incident."
North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) said resources had been sent to the scene.
In a statement, NWAS said:
"Our priority is to ensure people receive the medical help they need as quickly as possible."
PM releases statement
Sir Keir Starmer says "additional police assets" will be deployed at synagogues across the country, adding "we will do everything to keep our Jewish community safe."
He is flying home early from a meeting of European leaders in Denmark in order to chair a Cobra meeting following the incident.
The Prime Minister has posted a statement on social media:
The reported stabbings come as members of the Jewish community observe Yom Kippur.
Yom Kippur is considered the holiest day in the Jewish calendar and is a time when synagogues are usually particularly busy.
Dave Rich, of the Community Security Trust (CST) - a charity that monitors antisemitism in the UK, said the day is similar to Christmas Day for Christians, but is a day of solemnity and fasting rather than celebration.
He said: "Yom Kippur is the holiest day of the Jewish year.
"It's a very solemn day and synagogues across the country will be full throughout the day.
"There's always a significant security operation in place between police and CST across the Jewish community on all major Jewish festivals."
Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham said the "immediate danger appears to be over".
The Muslim Council of Britain has also released a statement to say its thoughts and prayers are with the Jewish community:
Rabbi describes attack as "worst nightmare"
A rabbi has described the attack at the synagogue as "every Jewish person's worst nightmare".
Rabbi Jonathan Romain, emeritus rabbi of Maidenhead Synagogue and current head of the Rabbinic Court of Great Britain, said he felt "appalled" by what had happened,
He said: "This is every Rabbi's or every Jewish person's worst nightmare.
"Not only is this a sacred day, the most sacred in the Jewish calendar, but it's also a time of mass gathering, and the time when the Jewish community, however religious or irreligious, gathers together."
He added: "This will obviously heighten the fears that many Jews have had, that political violence would spill over into religious hatred."
Local resident Olivia Gold said she had friends who attend the synagogue.
She said: "It would have been very, very busy. I live around the corner, but I've walked around to give support. It's now just police doing what they do.
"I came out to see what was happening because I heard three helicopters.
"It's just horrendous. We're a quiet community, just leave us alone. We don't want any of this.
"It's just four people who have been injured - thankfully no one was killed as far as I know.
"I think the response by police has been absolutely brilliant. They got here really, really quickly."