Manchester synagogue attack witness saw man 'stab window' before police shot him

A man was seen “stabbing the window” of a nearby building before police “opened fire” on him after a horrific attack on a synagogue, according to an eyewitness.

Police have now confirmed two people have died following the “major incident” outside the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue, on Middleton Road, Crumpsall. A third person, a man believed to be the offender, was shot by armed police and is also believed to be deceased.

Greater Manchester Police added: “It cannot currently be confirmed due to safety issues surround suspicious items on his person. The bomb disposal unit has been called and is now at the scene.”

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One eyewitness, Gareth, has told the BBChow he was driving a delivery van and saw part of the attack unfold. He said he was waiting in traffic thinking that there had been a crash before he saw a man “bleeding on the floor”.

Then he saw another person on the floor in front of a car and he heard people shouting. At this point he saw a man carrying a knife and “stabbing the window of a nearby building “trying to get in”.

Gareth continued: “Within seconds, the police arrived, they gave him a couple of warnings, he didn’t listen so they opened fire." The man is then said to have fallen to the floor, but Gareth added that he “started getting back up and they (the police) shot him again.”

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. As well as those dead, three other members of the public remain in a serious condition, said a police spokesperson.

The area around the synagogue was swamped by dozens of police vehicles, along with fire and ambulance crews, while the force helicopter hovered over-head shortly after the incident. The surrounding streets were cordoned off with more police cars and vans, sirens blaring, racing down neighbouring roads.

Police officers dressed in black combat fatigues and carrying machine guns could also be seen inside the cordon outside the synagogue. A number of black, unmarked police 4×4 vehicles and vans carrying plain clothes officers with face coverings were seen leaving the area of the incident at speed.

A Jewish man, among a group of shocked onlookers at the cordon, said his wife and daughter and other members of the congregation were still inside the synagogue. One Jewish man said: “It is the holiest day of the year and we get this. There is no place for Jews in Britain anymore. It’s over.”

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.”

The reported stabbings come as members of the Jewish community observe Yom Kippur. This is considered the holiest day in the Jewish calendar and is a time when synagogues are usually particularly busy. A statement from Greater Manchester Police read: “We know today’s horrifying attack, on the Jewish community’s holiest day, will have caused significant shock and fear throughout all of our communities

"We are grateful to the member of the public whose quick response to what they witnessed allowed our swift action, and as a result the offender was prevented from entering the synagogue. We remain in direct contact with all synagogues across Greater Manchester to provide reassurance and this will continue for as long as needed.

"We will continue to provide updates as we can, but I would ask anyone who believes they may have a loved one involved in today’s incident, please use the Casualty Bureau information in the first instance. I would further ask anyone who may have images or footage relating to today’s incident, refrains from circulating them on social media – please do share directly with GMP through http://www.ukpoliceimageappeal.co.uk/.”