The suspect who rammed a car into people and then began stabbing people on the holy day of Yom Kippur was shot by police, Greater Manchester Police said.
Day: October 2, 2025
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British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has condemned the attack at a synagogue in Manchester, north of England, that left two people dead and three others seriously injured. The suspect in the attack was shot dead by police.
“I’m appalled by the attack at a synagogue in Crumpsall [Greater Manchester]. The fact that this has taken place on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, makes it all the more horrific,” said Starmer, who left a meeting in Denmark early upon hearing of the incident on Thursday morning.
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Starmer will chair an emergency meeting once back in London and has deployed “additional police assets” to synagogues across the country in light of the attack. “We will do everything we can to keep our Jewish community safe,” he said.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) have confirmed that the suspect in the attack was “shot by GMP Firearms Officers” and is dead. The authorities earlier said it couldn’t be confirmed if the suspect had died “due to safety issues surround[ing] suspicious items on his person.” A bomb disposal unit was dispatched to the scene of the crime.
Police first responded to a call at 9:31 a.m., local time, on Thursday morning outside the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in the Crumpsall area of northern Manchester, where attendees were honoring the Jewish Holiday.
The caller reported a suspect driving a car towards members of the public, followed by at least one person being stabbed. The suspect was then shot by armed police officers at around 9:38 a.m. and paramedics arrived at the scene shortly thereafter.
Police reported that “a large number of people” were at the Synagogue for Yom Kippur, and that a member of the public who witnessed the event responded quickly. This “allowed swift action, and as a result the offender was prevented from entering the synagogue.”
King Charles said that himself and Queen Camilla are “deeply shocked and saddened” by the attack.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by this appalling incident and we greatly appreciate the swift actions of the emergency services,” said the British monarchy in a statement shared with TIME.
“Today we have witnessed a vile attack on our Jewish community on its holiest day,” said Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham. “We condemn whoever is responsible and will do everything within our power to keep people safe.”
Zack Polanski, the Green Party leader for England and Wales, said his party “stands with the Jewish community and everyone affected.”
Polanski, who is Jewish and grew up in Manchester, added: “So many of us are feeling the horrific scenes today that all come at a time of rising antisemitism.”
Leader of the Conservative Party Kemi Badenoch called the attack “vile and disgusting,” adding that Jewish families attending the synagogue were “targets for violence.”
“My heart goes out to all those hurt and affected. I know many in our Jewish community will feel shaken. They deserve to know they are not alone,” she said.
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The second phase of Afghanistan’s Qosh Tepa Canal is expected to be completed within five months, Islamic Emirate spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told Ariana News. The canal, which diverts water from the Amu Darya, has already raised concerns among downstream countries about its potential impact on regional water security.
Progress on the Ground
Afghan authorities stated in late May that 90 percent of the second phase had been completed. Videos show the canal lined with concrete and stone in some sections, alongside the construction of large and medium-sized bridges to link surrounding settlements. The project spans 128 kilometers from Dawlatabad district in Balkh province to Andkhoy district in Faryab province and involves over 60 contractors, making it one of Afghanistan’s largest infrastructure projects.
Origins and International Support
The canal’s roots trace back to earlier international efforts. While some sources attribute its conceptual origins to Soviet or British engineers in the 1960s, significant development began in 2018 under President Ashraf Ghani. The project was supported by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and Indian engineering firms.
According to the Scientific-Information Center of the Interstate Commission for Water Coordination (SIC ICWC), a $3.6 million feasibility study was launched in Kabul in December 2018, funded by USAID and conducted by AACS Consulting and BETS Consulting Services Ltd. The study was coordinated with several Afghan ministries but has not been published.
Following the Taliban’s takeover, the Islamic Emirate held an official inauguration ceremony on March 30, 2022. The full canal is designed to stretch 290.5 kilometers, measuring 100 meters wide and 8.5 meters deep, and is expected to divert up to 6 billion cubic meters of water annually from the Amu Darya. Afghan media have quoted water management expert Najibullah Sadid, who projected the canal could generate between $470 million and $550 million in annual revenue.
Regional Concerns and Environmental Risks
The project has raised alarm in Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Tajikistan, countries that depend heavily on the Amu Darya for irrigation. Experts at SIC ICWC point out that no environmental impact assessment was conducted for downstream states, nor were they formally notified of the construction, as required by international water conventions.
In December 2022, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev called for practical dialogue with Afghanistan and the international community to strengthen regional water security.
Adroit Associates estimates that the canal could eventually divert up to 13 billion cubic meters annually, nearly one-quarter of the Amu Darya’s average flow.
Environmental risks are also mounting. Analysts warn that Uzbekistan, which relies heavily on the river for agriculture, could face soil degradation and declining crop yields. Turkmenistan, where agriculture accounts for 12 percent of GDP, may also see severe disruptions. Some studies suggest Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan could lose up to 15 percent of their Amu Darya water supply, with flow volumes potentially halved within five to six years.
Environmental groups caution that, as with the Karakum Canal, Qosh Tepa may raise groundwater levels, causing widespread soil salinization and the long-term loss of arable land across the region.
A Test for Regional Water Diplomacy
The canal was a key topic at a recent international conference on water security held in Astana, which brought together Central Asian experts, diplomats, and government officials. Speakers stressed the need for coordinated regional strategies to manage transboundary water resources.
“Kazakhstan has no common border with Afghanistan, but we understand that water withdrawal volumes will have consequences,” said Aslan Abdraimov, Kazakhstan’s Vice Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation.
Currently, no formal water-sharing agreement exists between Afghanistan and its northern neighbors. Although Afghanistan is entitled to use the Amu Darya under international law, the Taliban’s unilateral construction of the canal highlights the absence of coordination.
Observers note, however, that Uzbekistan supplies electricity to Afghanistan and Turkmenistan continues to export gas to the country. These economic ties could provide a foundation for future cooperation on shared water resources.
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