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ISLAMABAD:&nbsp;December 16 is observed across Pakistan as a day of mourning in memory of the victims of the Army Public School attack in Peshawar, one of the deadliest terrorist attacks in the country&rsquo;s history. On this day in 2014, terrorists stormed the Army Public School in Peshawar, killing 147 students and teachers. The attack sent shockwaves across the country and marked a turning point in Pakistan&rsquo;s fight against terrorism. The day is widely remembered as a black day in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where educational institutions across the province observe solemn commemorations to honor the victims,&nbsp;Radio Pakistan reported. Pakistan&#39;s fight against terrorism&nbsp; <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">President Asif Ali Zardari paid tribute <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" id="isPasted">on Monday to the children and staff martyred in the Army Public School attack in Peshawar, saying their sacrifice remains a defining moment in Pakistan&rsquo;s fight against terrorism.<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In a message on the 11th anniversary of the December 16, 2014, attack, the president said the nation remembers &ldquo;the innocent children and staff of the Army Public School whose lives were taken in the brutal terrorist attack,&rdquo; describing the tragedy as a solemn reminder of the price Pakistan has paid to safeguard peace.<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He expressed solidarity with the families of the victims, acknowledging their courage and resilience in the years since the attack. The president said the nation would always honor the families who transformed their grief into strength for Pakistan.<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Reaffirming the country&rsquo;s stance, President Zardari said Pakistan&rsquo;s commitment to defeating terrorism was absolute. He said there could be no leniency for those who support, finance, shelter, or justify violence, and stressed that there would be no negotiations with groups that take up arms against the state or target children.<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The president strongly condemned Indian-sponsored terrorism in Pakistan, saying evidence of attempts to &ldquo;destabilize the country was well documented.&rdquo; Pakistan would continue to &ldquo;expose these hostile activities and will defend its people with full resolve,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He warned &quot;apologists, facilitators and supporters of terrorists that the people and the armed forces of Pakistan shall not spare them and will defeat them, no matter what political, ideological or fake religious garb they try to shroud themselves in.&quot;<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">President Zardari also paid tribute to Pakistan&rsquo;s security forces, law enforcement agencies, and intelligence services, saying their efforts had prevented many attacks and tragedies. He said the state would continue to pursue every militant and facilitator until justice was served.&ldquo;The memory of the APS martyrs strengthens our resolve,&rdquo; the president said, adding that Pakistan would never allow enemies of peace to succeed. &#39;Etched in the national conscience&#39;Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also paid tribute to the APS victims, saying their sacrifice was &quot;forever etched in the national conscience.&quot;&nbsp;<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In a message posted on X, he said the martyrs served as a constant reminder of the nation&rsquo;s collective responsibility to defeat terrorism.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 2;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2000773490908213459&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=03f8483f327cc399490b2f5527176f0238566353&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 393px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div><span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">&ldquo;The Pakistani nation will always stand united, firm, and unwavering in its resolve to eradicate the scourge of terrorism,&rdquo; the prime minister said.

File photo - Collage of APS martyred students (Radio Pakistan)

Security

December 16 is observed across Pakistan as a day of mourning in memory of the victims of the Army Public School attack in Peshawar, one of the deadliest terrorist attacks in the country’s history.

Pakistan marks 11th anniversary of school massacre as leaders reaffirm anti-terror resolve

ISLAMABAD:&nbsp;A suicide bombing left three Pakistani paramilitary personnel martyred at the border force headquarters in Peshawar city on Monday, police told AFP. &quot;Three FC (Federal Constabulary) personnel deployed at the gate were martyred and four others were wounded,&quot; said Peshawar police chief Mian Saeed, adding one assailant detonated explosives and two other attackers were shot dead by the security forces. The attackers struck at 8:10 am (0310 GMT) on the premises located on Saddar Road, one of the city&#39;s busiest routes, just before rush hour. An AFP reporter saw body parts of a suspected bomber lying outside the main gate, which was riddled with shrapnel holes. &quot;The attack has concluded, and a clearance operation is under way to determine whether any unexploded ordnance is present,&quot; Zulfiqar Hameed, the police chief of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, told AFP. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack so far. &#39;Timely action&#39; Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the assault, praising the &quot;timely action&quot; of security forces for averting greater loss of life. &quot;The perpetrators of this incident should be identified as soon as possible and brought to justice,&quot; Sharif said. &quot;We will thwart the evil designs of terrorists who attack Pakistan&rsquo;s integrity.&quot; President condemns attack&nbsp;Pakistan&rsquo;s President Asif Ali Zardari strongly condemned the attack by terrorist belonging to &ldquo;Fitna-e-Khawarij&rdquo; on the FC Headquarters in Peshawar, said a press release issued by President House on Monday. President Zardari expressed heartfelt sympathies with the families of the martyrs and prayed for the swift recovery of the injured, the official press release said. &ldquo;The attack is a cowardly act carried out by foreign-backed external terrorists operating against our beloved homeland,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;The complete elimination of terrorism perpetrated by the foreign-backed terrorist elements is a top priority,&rdquo; President Zardari emphasized. The president paid tribute to the timely and courageous response of the security forces and the police.

‘Three FC (Federal Constabulary) personnel deployed at the gate were martyred and four others were wounded,’ said Peshawar police chief Mian Saeed, adding one assailant detonated explosives and two other attackers were shot dead by the security forces.

Pakistan PM, president condemn terrorist attack on FC headquarters in Peshawar 

ISLAMABAD: At least 12 people were martyred and dozens injured in a suicide blast outside the District Judicial Complex in Islamabad on Tuesday, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi confirmed.&nbsp;Speaking to reporters at the scene, Naqvi said the explosion occurred at approximately 12:39 p.m. after the attacker was prevented from entering the courthouse premises.&nbsp;&ldquo;The suicide bomber failed to enter the judicial complex and detonated himself near a police vehicle,&rdquo; Naqvi said.&nbsp;He said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed authorities to ensure the &ldquo;best possible medical care&rdquo; for the injured, and added that identifying the attacker and tracing support networks remains a priority.&nbsp;&ldquo;The perpetrators of this attack will be exposed,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Investigators are examining multiple leads linked to the incident. If any foreign element is found involved, it will not be forgiven.&rdquo; Preliminary report, IG statementAccording to a preliminary report cited by Pakistani broadcaster Geo News, investigators say the suicide attacker was from Bajaur. He arrived in Islamabad on Friday and traveled from Pirwadhai junction in the Rawalpindi-Islamabad area to the G-11 Judicial Complex on a motorcycle. Sources said he was wearing a covering sheet.&nbsp;Islamabad Inspector General of Police (IG) Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi said the blast involved up to 8 kilograms of explosives and ball bearings. Evidence collected so far indicates a single attacker. A motorcycle and a car are considered suspicious, and evidence is being gathered via camera backtracking, with forensic, CTD, Safe City, and other agencies reviewing the findings.&nbsp;Surveillance footage releasedCCTV footage released by the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) shows the road outside the judicial complex where a police van was parked. Moments later, an off-white 1995 Toyota Corolla sedan approached the vehicle, appearing to attempt entry into the complex. The car then exploded, triggering the blast captured in the video. <div class="fr-embed instagram-embed" style="width: 50%; display: block; max-width: 600px;"><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-0" src="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQ7ELsLjXIw/embed/?cr=1&v=14&wp=1080&rd=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com&rp=%2Farticles%2F2091#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A1156205.199999988%2C%22ls%22%3A4950.600000023842%2C%22le%22%3A6207.800000011921%7D" allowfullscreen="true" frameborder="0" height="881" scrolling="no" style="background: white; max-width: 540px; width: calc(100% - 2px); border-radius: 3px; border: 1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219); box-shadow: none; display: block; margin: 0px 0px 12px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0px;"></iframe></div>&lsquo;Wakeup call&rsquo; Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said the attack underscores ongoing national security challenges.&nbsp;&ldquo;We are in a state of war,&rdquo; he said in a statement on X. &ldquo;Anyone who believes this war is confined to border regions must see today&rsquo;s attack as a wake-up call.&rdquo;&nbsp;Emergency declared at PIMSAn emergency was declared at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), spokesperson Dr. Mubashir Daha said. PIMS Executive Director Dr. Rana Imran Sikandar is personally overseeing emergency care.&nbsp;&ldquo;All available resources are being utilized to ensure the best possible care for the victims,&rdquo; Dr. Daha said.&nbsp;The number of injured has risen to 30, according to updated hospital figures.&nbsp;President, PM condemn attackPresident Asif Ali Zardari strongly condemned the attack, offered condolences to families of the martyred, and paid tribute to security personnel.&nbsp;Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif linked the attack to India-backed militant networks.&nbsp;&ldquo;The attacks in Wana and now in Islamabad were carried out by India-backed groups, Fitna al-Khawarij and Fitna al-Hindustan,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;We will not let the blood of innocent Pakistanis go in vain.&rdquo; <div class="fr-embed youtube-embed"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9xJ9qUFte1A?si=voFDxoCPfWYVKqb6" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen="" style="width: 100%; height: auto; aspect-ratio: 16 / 9; max-width: 100%; display: block;"></iframe>&nbsp;</div>&nbsp;Global condemnation&nbsp;A number of countries, including US, China and Russia, and international partners condemned the attack and expressed solidarity with Pakistan.&nbsp;Qatar condemned the attacks in Islamabad and Wana and reaffirmed its rejection of terrorism. Iran&rsquo;s Ambassador to Pakistan Reza Amiri called terrorism a regional threat and urged united action, while offering deep condolences. Australia expressed solidarity and support for community safety. The United States condemned the blast and pledged continued support for Pakistan&rsquo;s efforts against terrorism. China extended condolences and wished the injured a quick recovery. The European Union expressed sadness over the loss of lives and conveyed sympathy to the families.&nbsp;The Embassy of Russia in Pakistan stated:&nbsp;&ldquo;We strongly condemn the terrorist attack at G-11 Judicial Complex in Islamabad. We hope those who organized this attack will be identified and brought to justice. We express our condolences to the families and friends of the victims and wish those injured a speedy recovery.&rdquo;

Surveillance footage shows car approaching police van before explosion outside Islamabad judicial complex gate area.

At least 12 martyred, dozens injured in Islamabad suicide bombing: interior minister

ISLAMABAD: A United Nations report has revealed that multiple terrorist groups continue to operate from Afghanistan, contradicting Taliban claims to the contrary. Pakistan has repeatedly urged the Afghan Taliban to prevent its territory from being used for terrorism. The latest talks in Istanbul between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban ended in a deadlock, as Pakistan insisted on &quot;no compromise&quot; on ending cross-border terrorism, which the latter kept denying. Pakistan has called for &quot;verifiable action&quot; against Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which continues to launch attacks from Afghan soil. The United Nations has acknowledged that Afghan territory is being used by several terror outfits. A Security Council report from June 2025 highlighted that over two dozen terrorist groups operate in Afghanistan. The report warned that these groups posed a &quot;serious challenge&quot; to the stability of Afghanistan and the security of neighboring countries, including those in Central Asia. Taliban regime&rsquo;s support for TTP A subsequent UNSC report from July 24, 2025, further noted that Afghanistan&#39;s Taliban regime continued to maintain a &ldquo;permissive environment&rdquo; for various terrorist groups. The report confirmed that the TTP, estimated to have around 6,000 fighters, receives &quot;substantial logistical and operational support&quot; from the Taliban regime. Some within the Taliban reportedly advocate distancing themselves from the TTP to improve relations with neighboring states, though such calls have not led to any significant policy changes. TTP&rsquo;s cooperation with other militants to target Pakistan The TTP has coordinated with other militant groups to destabilize Pakistan. In January 2025, the TTP provided training to terrorists in Balochistan. The UNSC report details evidence of &quot;close coordination&quot; between the TTP and the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) in southern Afghanistan. Both groups are said to have shared training camps, with al-Qaeda providing &quot;ideological and weapons training.&quot; An attack by the BLA, the hijacking of the Jaffar Express train on March 11, resulted in over 30 deaths, demonstrating the group&#39;s increasing capacity for complex, deadly operations. While some experts believe the TTP and BLA do not cooperate at a &quot;strategic level,&quot; there may be a &quot;non-aggression pact&quot; between the two. Concerns over TTP&rsquo;s acquisition of high-grade weapons The acquisition of high-grade weaponry by the TTP, including NATO-standard arms, is particularly concerning. The UNSC noted that these weapons were obtained through &quot;cross-border smuggling and black-market trade,&quot; corroborating Pakistan&#39;s concerns. The TTP has also employed unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to carry out attacks on Pakistani military installations in Balochistan and Punjab, the reported stated. ISIL-K and al-Qaeda&#39;s growing presence The terrorist landscape extends beyond the TTP. According to the UNSC report, ISIL-K has been indoctrinating children in madrassas in northern Afghanistan, establishing a suicide training program for minors as young as 14. The group has spread across the northern and northeastern provinces of Afghanistan, with attempts to establish operations in neighboring states. al-Qaeda also maintains a strong presence in Afghanistan. The UNSC report raised concerns about al-Qaeda in South Asia, noting the group has expanded to six provinces, including Ghazni, Helmand, Kandahar, Kunar, Uruzgan, and Zabul. The terror outfit operates several training sites across Afghanistan, even training TTP fighters. Threat to China The UNSC&#39;s July 2025 report further details how Afghanistan&#39;s Taliban regime has allowed groups like the Eastern Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM/TIP) to operate within its borders. ETIM/TIP has reportedly grown to a force of up to 750 militants, with some regional states assessing its strength to be growing. In December 2024, ETIM/TIP leaders met with Taliban representatives in Kabul, discussing the flow of foreign terrorist fighters from Afghanistan. This cooperation signals the Taliban&#39;s ongoing support for foreign militant groups. Threats for entire region As long as the Afghan Taliban regime continues to permit the use of its soil by terrorist groups, the security of neighboring countries, including Pakistan, Iran, and even China, remains at risk.

Afghanistan

A UN report revealed multiple terrorist groups operating from Afghanistan, with Taliban support for TTP and al-Qaeda, posing a growing threat to regional security, including China and Pakistan.

UN report: Terrorist groups operate from Afghan soil

ISLAMABAD: Police said on Thursday that the suspect in the deadly attack outside a synagogue in Manchester in northern England was believed to be Jihad al-Shamie, a 35-year-old British citizen of Syrian descent, Reuters reported. &quot;We believe the person responsible for today&#39;s attacks is 35-year-old Jihad Al-Shamie,&quot; Greater Manchester Police said late on Thursday. &quot;He is a British citizen of Syrian descent.&quot; <div class="fr-embed responsive-video"><div class="video-wrapper aspect-video"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1973846979466649865&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=fd4cd7e0bfea93c57fe526e3d6e4fc001697d86b&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="width: 100%; height: 100%; min-height: 0px;"></iframe></div></div></div> The attacker ploughed a car into a crowd outside a packed synagogue in Britain on a Jewish holiday, before going on a stabbing spree, killing two people and leaving four wounded, police said, according to AFP. Police said they shot dead the suspect and arrested three other people within hours of the attack in the city of Manchester, which took place as Jewish communities around the world marked Yom Kippur, the holiest holiday in the Jewish calendar. &lsquo;Terrorist incident&rsquo;The two dead victims were Jewish, police in the northwest English city confirmed, as counter-terror police declared it a &quot;terrorist incident&quot;.&nbsp; Four other people were seriously wounded. The three people arrested were &quot;two men in their 30s and a woman in her 60s&quot;, who were in custody &quot;on suspicion of commission, preparation and instigation of acts of terrorism&quot;, said Greater Manchester Police (GMP). &lsquo;Not functional&rsquo; vest&nbsp;The attacker wore a &quot;vest which had the appearance of an explosive device&quot;, but police revealed later that evening it was not functional. As night fell, Orthodox Jewish worshippers emerged from packed synagogues in Manchester after a day of prayers and fasting to learn about the attack, having switched off phones and computers for the day. Aryeh Ehrentreu, 56, who spent the day praying in a synagogue minutes away, said he had heard the ambulances arriving. &quot;Then the security asked us to close all our doors in the synagogue, so we knew the attack took place,&quot; Ehrentreu told AFP, calling the attack &quot;extremely worrying.&quot; Security beefed up&nbsp;Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who left a European summit in Denmark early to chair an emergency response meeting in London, announced security was being boosted at UK synagogues. Addressing Jewish communities directly in a televised statement shortly after the meeting, he vowed to &quot;do everything in my power to guarantee you the security that you deserve.&quot; <div class="fr-embed responsive-video"><div class="video-wrapper aspect-video"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1973798805507056086&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=fd4cd7e0bfea93c57fe526e3d6e4fc001697d86b&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="width: 100%; height: 100%; min-height: 0px;"></iframe></div></div></div> He said while antisemitism was not new, &quot;We must be clear it is a hatred that is rising once again, and Britain must defeat it once again&quot;. According to a post on X, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood stated: &quot;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.&quot; <div class="fr-embed responsive-video"><div class="video-wrapper aspect-video"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-2" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-2&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1973824171299012725&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=fd4cd7e0bfea93c57fe526e3d6e4fc001697d86b&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="width: 550px; height: 921px; min-height: 0px; position: static; visibility: visible;"></iframe></div></div></div><h2 style="line-height: 2;"> </h2><h2 style="line-height: 2;">&lsquo;Serious injuries&rsquo;</h2>GMP said it&nbsp;was alerted shortly after 9:30 am (0830 GMT) that a car had driven into people outside the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue and a security guard had been attacked with a knife. Chief constable Stephen Watson confirmed later that &quot;two members of our Jewish community have sadly died&quot;, adding officers had shot dead the attacker within seven minutes of the first emergency call, AFP reported. Four other people remained in hospital with &quot;serious injuries&quot;, he said. Swift action&nbsp;&quot;The driver of the car was seen then to attack people with a knife&quot; while wearing a fake explosives vest. Police praised the swift action of people who reported the attack, saying it had stopped the suspect from entering the synagogue. A witness told BBC Radio he saw police shooting a man after a car crash. &quot;They gave him a couple of warnings, but he didn&#39;t listen until they opened fire,&quot; the witness said. &lsquo;Shocked and saddened&rsquo;King Charles III said he and Queen Camilla were &quot;deeply shocked and saddened&quot;. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was among the world leaders to condemn the attack. &quot;Houses of worship are sacred places where people can go to find peace,&quot;&nbsp;Guterres said. &quot;Targeting a synagogue on Yom Kippur is particularly heinous.&quot; Jewish community in the UKManchester, renowned for its two Premier League football clubs and its industrial heritage, is home to one of the largest Jewish communities in the UK. It totaled more than 28,000 in 2021, according to the Institute for Jewish Policy Research.

United Kingdom

A British citizen of Syrian origin killed two and wounded four in a terrorist attack outside a Manchester synagogue during Yom Kippur, prompting increased UK synagogue security and global condemnation amid rising antisemitism concerns.

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