Four people were injured on Wednesday morning after a car was driven into a crowd outside a synagogue in Crumpsall, Greater Manchester, in what police have described as a “major incident.”
The attack, which took place outside the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue, is already being linked to wider fears of terrorism in Europe.
According to Greater Manchester Police (GMP), officers were called at 09:31 local time (10:31 SAST) after reports of a vehicle ploughing into people gathered near the synagogue.
Within six minutes, police declared a major incident. A man believed to be the suspect was shot by armed officers at the scene. His condition has not yet been confirmed.
Video footage shared on social media showed armed officers shouting at people to “get back” and “move on” while pointing their guns at a man lying on the ground.
Streets surrounding the synagogue were sealed off as police cars and vans rushed into the area with sirens blaring.
The incident occurred during Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, which is often called the Day of Atonement.
On this day, Jewish communities around the world gather for fasting and prayer, making synagogues particularly crowded.
The timing has raised fears that the attack may have been deliberately aimed at worshippers.
This attack comes just a day after German police arrested three alleged members of Hamas, accused of plotting assaults on Jewish and Israeli institutions in Germany.
Officials there said the suspects had been trying to obtain weapons, including an AK-47 rifle, and were taken into custody after raids uncovered ammunition. The arrests raised concerns about a growing risk to Jewish communities in Europe.
Authorities have not yet confirmed whether the Manchester incident is connected to international extremist groups, but the overlap in timing has heightened tensions.
Police in the UK have been on high alert following a sharp rise in antisemitic threats and violence linked to the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas.
One eyewitness who had been nearby during the Manchester synagogue incident told local reporters that panic broke out immediately after the car hit the crowd.
“People were screaming and running in all directions. Then the police shouted for us to move away as they pointed guns at the man on the ground,” the witness said.
The condition of the four injured victims has not been released.
GMP has urged members of the public to stay away from the area while investigations continue.
Officials have promised extra patrols around Jewish sites in Manchester in the coming days.