'The moment he got out of the car he started stabbing anyone near him... he went for the security guard'

COMMUNITY'S HORROR OVER 'APPALLING ATTACK'

- By DAMON WILKINSON, CHRIS GEE & IAN HUGHES

MEMBERS of the Jewish community have reacted with horror following an 'appalling attack' outside a north Manchester synagogue during Yom Kippur.

Chava Lewin, who described herself as a religious Jew, lives next door to the synagogue. She said: “I was outside and heard a banging sound and I thought it might be a firework.

“My husband went outside and then ran back inside and said, ‘There's been a terrorist attack! I spoke to someone who said she was driving and saw a car driving erratically and it crashed into the gates (of the synagogue).

“She thought maybe he had a heart attack. The second he got out of the car he started stabbing anyone near him. He went for the security guard and tried to break into the synagogue. He was in the courtyard.

“Someone barricaded the door. Everyone is in utter shock.”

Another man said prayers had started when the attack happened but Rabbi Daniel Walker, who was leading the service, remained calm and he and others led the congregation to safety. He added: “They are true heroes.”

Josh Aranson, 39, lives facing the synagogue. He said: “It was around 9.30am and I heard shots. I'm a reporter who has worked in warzones so I understand what shots sound like and I realised straight away what they were.

“Then I heard sirens. Police wouldn't let us out of our flats. They later evacuated us from our flats. They came and knocked on our doors and told us we had to get out. I saw the Rabbi, who on this day wears a special white robe. I saw at the bottom of the white robe was blood.”