A retired Scotland Yard detective has commended the swift armed response by Greater Manchester Police to this morning's synagogue attack, describing it as "fine police action very brave, very fast police action."
Mike Neville, the former Metropolitan Police detective, praised officers who confronted an attacker outside the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue in Crumpsall during Yom Kippur, Judaism's holiest day.
The assault began when an individual drove a vehicle towards pedestrians before launching a stabbing attack outside the place of worship.
Two members of the public have died and three are in hospital in a serious condition, according to Greater Manchester Police.
Mike Neville commended the swift armed response by Greater Manchester Police to this morning's synagogue attack
| GB NEWSArmed officers responded within 60 seconds, shooting the suspected attacker. The assailant was later confirmed deceased.
Speaking to GB News, Mr Neville said: "The police receive a lot of criticism, but in this case you’ve got to say this was fine police action very brave, very fast police action.
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"You’ve also got to ask: was there some intelligence here? Were there extra officers on duty?
"Greater Manchester Police is the second-biggest force in the UK. It’s very well led by Chief Constable Steve Watson.
"So I can only imagine they had something in place for Yom Kippur and that’s why those extra officers were deployed, hence the speed of the response.
"The fact armed officers were on the scene literally within minutes. That does lead me to believe there was some kind of intelligence, and that extra officers had been put on duty to deploy rapidly.
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"We can only hope and pray for the police officer involved, because we know they’ll be subject to all sorts of inquiries now."
Discussing the actual incident he added: "What strikes me, having many Jewish friends, is that in 2025 we’re seeing people murdered in England for being Jewish.
"What have we come to? How has this ever been allowed to go on? The police have a huge job. The counterterrorism teams have thousands of people, particularly Islamic extremists, on their watch lists.
"They can’t monitor them all. And you have to ask: why have those people ever been allowed to form in our nation? Who has been allowed in here who harbours hatred of Jewish people?"
Armed officers responded within sixty seconds, shooting the suspected attacker
|PA
The rapid police intervention occurred as worshippers gathered for Yom Kippur services.
Officers secured the area whilst paramedics treated the wounded, with authorities declaring it a major incident requiring extensive emergency service deployment.
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham moved quickly to reassure residents, stating that "the immediate danger appears to be over."
He urged citizens to avoid the Crumpsall area whilst emergency services continued their work.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed his horror at the assault, writing online: "I'm appalled by the attack at a synagogue in Crumpsall."
He noted the particular severity of the timing, stating: "The fact that this has taken place on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, makes it all the more horrific."
The Prime Minister extended his sympathies to those affected and thanked emergency responders for their swift action.
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