Two people died and three wounds seriously injured by a vehicle and stab wounds this Thursday, October 2 during an attack in front of a synagogue in Manchester, north of England. The place of worship was very busy for the Jewish party of Yom Kippour. The man suspected of having committed the attack was killed by the shots of the police that intervened in the scene.
• A “terrorist attack”
At 9:31 in the morning on Thursday, the English police received the first calls indicating that a security agent had been attacked with a knife near Heaton Park’s synagogue, in Crumpall, a district north of the Manchester agglomeration. It was also informed that several other people on the scene had been injured by a car. Police quickly spoke of “terrorist attack.”
In a first communication, the authorities initially declared that four people had been injured after the attack. Emergency services then confirmed the death of two people on the scene, adding that three others were seriously injured.
• The suspect murdered by the police
A few minutes after the start of the attack, the police “shot” the suspect, which was “touched by bullets,” he said. Initially, the police said they could not confirm their condition due to “suspicious objects” in their body. In the afternoon, Grand Manchester police announced the death of the suspect.
A police spokesman praised the “rapid reaction” of a witness from the attack on the synagogue that allowed the first agents to take “quick measures” to prevent the assailant “to enter the synagogue.”
• Site Disposal Operations
“We are currently evaluating the situation and working with other emergency services,” Mancunian police said in a statement. According to journalists from Sky News and BBC, a decrease unit went to the attack scene.
“A loud noise was heard on the scene when the specialized teams entered the suspect vehicle as a precautionary measure,” said Grand Manchester police on a tweet.
The armed police, emergency intervention equipment and firefighters are also on the site, with police helicopters flying over the area.
The situation “was handled very effectively by those present at the scene and by the Grand Manchester police,” said the mayor of the city shortly after the attack.
The “many people” present in the synagogue at the time of the drama were limited for the first time, but since then they have been evacuated. The members of the Jewish community have gathered near this place of worship, some to pray.
• Keir Starmer says “horrified”
In a publication about X, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he was “dismayed” for this attack. “The fact that this happened on Yom Kippour day, the most holy day of the Jewish calendar, makes the situation even more horrible,” he wrote. Yom Kippour’s Jewish party is the most holy in Judaism. During this party, believers usually go to the synagogue several times to pray.
Present at the Copenhagen European Summit, Keir Starmer said he shortened his visit and returns to the United Kingdom.
“I can already say that additional police resources are implemented in synagogues throughout the country, and we will do everything to guarantee the security of our Jewish community,” he said too.
King Carlos III said he was “deeply shocked” by the attack. “My wife and I are deeply shocked and saddened by learning the horrible attack in Manchester, especially in this important day for the Jewish community,” he said.
• The safety of places of cult reinforced to France
In France, Emmanuel Macron said he was arrested “together with families (…), the Jewish community and the British people.” “On this day of Yom Kippour, we reaffirm with the determination: the fight against anti -Semitism is ours and we will direct it without respite,” he wrote in X, denouncing an “anti -Semitic terrorist attack.”
For his part, the Interior Minister renouncing Bruno Retaille asked the prefects to strengthen the “places frequented by the Jewish community”, on a telegram, BFMTV learned.
“I ask you to immediately take measures that can reassure the Jewish community and strengthen all sites frequented by this community: places of worship, schools, shops, etc.”, he wrote.
He also clarified that “beyond the international context, the festivities of the month of Tichri, which are currently being carried out, particularly exhibit the Jewish community.” The Jewish community is currently celebrating until October 15, the festivities of the month of Tichri, especially with the Yom Kippour party.
Source: BFM TV
