Everything Andy Burnham said after police scramble to north Manchester synagogue amid ‘stabbing’ reports

Thursday, 2 October 2025 11:37

By Ethan Davies, Local Democracy Reporter

Andy Burnham pictured earlier this year in Bury town centre. Credit: David Murphy / Roch Valley Radio

Andy Burnham has sought to reassure Greater Manchester the ‘immediate danger has been averted’ after a ‘major incident’ outside a north Manchester synagogue.

Armed police raced to the Heaton Park Congregation Synagogue scene on Middleton Road in Crumpsall area at 9.31am, along with paramedics.

The mayor said emergency services were called ‘by members of the public, saying they had witnessed a car being driven to the public and one had been stabbed’.

It’s since been confirmed by GMP officers shot the male suspect at the scene at around 9.38am.

“It’s believed the offender is deceased but that’s not confirmed,” the mayor told BBC Radio Manchester shortly after the news emerged on Thursday morning (October 2).

“I have been told police have been called to the Heaton Park Congregation Synagogue on Middleton Road, Crumpsall, at 9.31am by members of the public saying he had witnessed a car being driven to the public and one had been stabbed,” Mr Burnham said.

“Firearms officers were deployed at 9.34am as police continued to receive further reports that a security guard had been attacked with a knife

“GMP declared Plato and a major incident at 9.37am. Shots were fired at 9.38am and one man has been shot and that’s believed to be the offender.

“Paramedics arrived at 9.41am, attending to members of the public. Four members of the public with injuries, caused by the vehicle and stab wounds.

“There are still issues being dealt with at the scene. There’s a degree of reassurance that it has been dealt with very effectively by GMP.”

Today is Yom Kippur, considered to be the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.

“We understand this situation is linked to Yom Kippur, that’s a day of celebration for the Jewish community,” the mayor went on.

The mayor then sought to reassure the community in Crumpsall, continuing: “It’s not an incident that’s been completed. It’s still ongoing. It’s why you should avoid the area.

“It’s under as much control as possible. The risks of further harm to the public are reduced but not removed.

“I have significant role in reassuring all of our communities but particularly the Jewish community and have been living with higher state of anxiety because of the times we live in.

“What I can say as police have the closest of relationships with the community security trust there to protect the community.

“We think of them and their families as they recover from this incident.”