Crumpsall terror attack has ‘left mark’ on Manchester – but Mancs ‘will not stand aside’

A terrorist attack which killed two people in Crumpsall on this morning, October 2, has left a ‘deep mark’ on Manchester, but the city’s leaders have vowed they will ‘never let hatred succeed’.

The suburb has been rocked by the incident, which saw police scrambled to Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue shortly after 9.30am.

Greater Manchester Police have since confirmed a car was driven at people outside the building.

Two people were killed in the incident, either hit by the vehicle or stabbed, with another two seriously injured.

One attacker was shot dead by police seven minutes after the 999 call was made. And two other suspects  have since been arrested.

This evening, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham, and Manchester council leader Bev Craig used a press conference to urge Mancunians to stand together in the face of terror.

The mayor, who attended a government COBRA meeting with Ms Mahmood earlier in the afternoon, said ‘Greater Manchester will never stand aside when one of our communities is attacked’, and urged residents to express messages of support for the city’s Jewish community this weekend.

Video Credit: LDRS

In a two-minute address, Mr Burnham said:

“On behalf of everybody in Greater Manchester, I would like to thank the Home Secretary for coming here immediately today to provide reassurance to our communities, and of course support Greater Manchester Police, to the chief constable, and all of his staff. 

“We would want to say, we can’t thank you, them, enough, for being on the scene within minutes. Our firefighters from Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service also provided emergency care at the scene, and, of course, staff from NWAS, Northwest Ambulance Service. 


“This was an exemplary blue light response. They were supported by volunteers on the scene from the Community Security Trust, and it’s an organisation that we owe a huge debt of thanks to, that works to keep our communities safe. 

“Tonight, our first thoughts are with the families of those people who died, those injured, and those traumatised by this, and horrific anti-Semitic attack on our Jewish friends and neighbours. 

“We condemn it outright. 


“Greater Manchester will never stand aside when one of our communities is attacked. We ask everyone to show solidarity to the Jewish community this weekend, and already, we’ve mobilised through our interfaith network, messages of support and solidarity, through places of worship. 

“We always will stand together here in Greater Manchester, and we will never let acts that are designed to cause hatred, division, in our communities, violence. 
We will never let them succeed. 

“That’s our message tonight, to everybody across Greater Manchester tonight: Do not let them succeed. Respond by reaching out by redoubling efforts to work together and stand together in these difficult types.”

Council leader Bev Craig recognised the attack had ‘left a deep mark’ on Manchester, but said she was confident Mancs ‘will show the unity that we’re proud of’.

In full, Coun Craig said:

“Tonight, across Manchester, residents are horrified by the anti-Semitic terrorist attack we’ve witnessed on our streets here, in Crumptall, echoing the words of the Home Secretary and the mayor, our thoughts are with those, those who have lost their lives, their families, their loved ones, those that are injured, and everyone that’s been affected.

“We know that this will leave a deep mark on our community here in Manchester, as Jewish people were attacked on their holiest day, as they went to worship. 

“But know this. In Manchester, we will stand with and support our Jewish friends, our Jewish community, our neighbours, and fellow residents. 

“We’ll stand together, wrapping our arms around them with the love and the support that they need. I will work with the agencies, to make sure, right across the city, everyone in our city fails safe. 


“Tonight is a difficult moment of sadness, and reflection. But I know that Manchester will come together. “They’ll show the unity that we’re proud of, and they’ll stand with in declaring that hate has no place in our city, and that Manchester is a city we can all be proud of, and a city that will show the love and support to our Jewish friends that they need in this moment of darkness.”

Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, said this evening:

"My prayers are with the victims and the families of all of those who are murdered here today. I want to thank the police and all of the emergency services for the speed of their response and also for their considerable bravery. The government has stepped up security at synagogues across the whole of the country, and we will do whatever is required to keep our Jewish community safe.

"I know that there are many questions that are still to be answered, and rest assured, they will be answered as quickly as possible. It will just take a little time for us to establish exactly what has happened here, but we will share more information as soon as we are able to. What I do want to say is, to those who seek to divide us, they will fail."