Manchester, England – Four people were injured in a coordinated vehicle-ramming and stabbing attack outside a synagogue in Manchester on Thursday morning, a violent assault that marred the holiest day of the Jewish calendar, Yom Kippur. Greater Manchester Police responded to the incident and shot a male suspect at the scene.

The attack occurred at approximately 09:30 BST outside the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in the Crumpsall area of north Manchester. According to reports from the scene, a car was first driven into pedestrians near the synagogue. The assailant then emerged and stabbed multiple people before he was confronted by armed police.

Greater Manchester Police confirmed that four individuals sustained injuries from both the vehicle impact and stab wounds. Emergency services attended to the injured, transporting at least one person to the hospital. The conditions of the victims have not been publicly disclosed.

Armed officers shot the suspected attacker at the scene. His condition has not been officially confirmed, but sources indicate he is believed to be dead.

In response to the incident, authorities activated "Plato," the national emergency response protocol for a marauding terror attack. However, officials have not yet formally declared the attack a terrorist incident. Specialist counterterrorism officers are heavily involved in the investigation, and a large police cordon remains in place around the area.

The attack drew immediate and widespread condemnation from political leaders. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who is returning from a European summit, is set to chair an emergency COBRA meeting. He described the assault as an "appalling" act, highlighting its timing. Tory leader Kemi Badenoch called it an "outrageous attack on the Jewish community."

Manchester's mayor, Andy Burnham, advised the public to avoid the area but reassured residents that the immediate threat had been neutralized by the police response.

The attack’s timing on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, is deeply significant. It is a day of fasting, prayer, and reflection, and one of the most important holy days in Judaism, bringing a large number of worshippers to synagogues.

The motive for the attack remains under investigation. Authorities are working to identify the suspect and determine if he acted alone. Further details are expected to be released as the investigation progresses.