Manchester witnessed a tragic incident on Thursday morning when a violent attack outside the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation resulted in two fatalities and several injuries. The attack occurred during Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, around 9:30 am. Eyewitness footage shows armed police urging bystanders to move away from the suspect, with an officer shouting, "Get back, he has a bomb, go away."

The situation escalated when a man drove a vehicle into pedestrians and subsequently stabbed a victim. Armed officers responded swiftly, fatally shooting the suspect within minutes. However, police have not confirmed the suspect's death due to concerns about suspicious items found on him, prompting the deployment of a bomb disposal unit to the scene.

Initially, four people were reported injured, but authorities later confirmed two deaths. The North West Ambulance Service declared a major incident and sent additional crews, with paramedics seen in protective gear at the site.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who cut short a trip to Denmark, condemned the attack, stating, "The fact that this has taken place on Yom Kippur makes it all the more horrific." He expressed his condolences to the victims' families and announced that additional police would be deployed to synagogues across the UK.

King Charles expressed his shock and sadness over the events, while London Mayor Sadiq Khan described the attack as "incredibly worrying" and emphasized the need for safety in places of worship. Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham called for calm, noting that while it was a serious incident, the immediate danger seemed to have passed.

The investigation is ongoing, with counterterrorism officers involved, although the incident has not yet been officially classified as a terrorist attack. Police have not released the identities of the victims or the attacker as they continue their inquiries into this tragic event.