Manchester, UK – Rabbi Daniel Walker of the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation has been praised as a hero after taking decisive action to protect worshippers during a deadly attack on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.

At approximately 9:30 a.m., a man rammed a vehicle into the front of the synagogue before launching a stabbing spree outside the building.

Armed officers from Greater Manchester Police (GMP) responded swiftly, shooting the suspect, who is believed to have died.

Authorities later confirmed that at least two people were killed and three others remain in serious condition.

As chaos unfolded outside, Rabbi Walker—who has led Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation since 2008—barricaded the synagogue doors, preventing the attacker from gaining entry to the crowded sanctuary. Witnesses said his actions likely saved dozens of lives.

One worshipper recalled: “Rabbi Walker was incredibly calm. He shut and barricaded the doors, protecting everyone inside. He is a hero. This could have been so much worse.”

Eyewitnesses described the suspect acting in a “robotic” manner, targeting Jewish worshippers as they exited their vehicles or stood near the gates of the synagogue.

Video circulating online shows armed officers pointing their weapons at the attacker, who lay on the ground before attempting to rise.

Officers then fired again, as bomb disposal teams were called in to investigate suspicious items found on the man’s body, including what was initially feared to be an explosive belt.

Photographs taken shortly afterward showed Rabbi Walker outside the synagogue, his white kittel—robes traditionally worn by Jewish leaders on Yom Kippur—reportedly stained with blood from the scene.

One man who witnessed the assault said: “It is the holiest day of the year, and we get this. There is no place for Jews in Britain anymore. It’s horrifying. We just don’t feel safe.”

Rabbi Walker is a prominent figure in Manchester’s Jewish community. In addition to serving as Rabbi of the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation since 2008, he holds several leadership roles:

• Co-chair of the Community and Interfaith Committees of the Jewish Representative Council.
• Chairman of The Friendship Circle, supporting individuals with disabilities.
• Director of the Manchester Beth Din (Ecclesiastical Court).
• Governor of King David Primary and High Schools.

Educated at Manchester Jewish Grammar School, Rabbi Walker studied in yeshivas in the United States and Israel, receiving ordination in 2003.

He previously held a number of rabbinic and educational positions both in the UK and abroad.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer condemned the attack, saying he was “appalled” and that the fact it took place on Yom Kippur made it “all the more horrific.” He announced he would return early from a European leaders’ summit to chair a Cobra emergency meeting.

Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham also confirmed the attack was being treated as a terrorist incident, while King Charles III and Queen Camilla expressed that they were “deeply shocked and saddened” by the assault, praising the swift actions of emergency responders.