Police have raced to the scene of a stabbing at a synagogue in Manchester, where two people have been killed and the suspected attacker has been shot dead by police – a terrifying image shows him wearing a 'bomb belt'.
Five member of the public were injured in the attack at the synagogue this morning, two of whom have subsequently died with three remaining in a serious condition, officers say. A cordon has been placed around the Heaton Park synagogue, where armed police, paramedics, a bomb disposal unit and the fire service are on scene.
A major incident has been declared by Greater Manchester Police.
It is believed one of those killed was a security guard at the synagogue. Police were today standing guard providing extra security at other local synagogues.
Lives may have been saved as those inside the synagogue managed to bolt the doors from inside, one local said. He said: “I’m observing holiest day so I’m not using any devices. But word of mouth says two people have died. The guy drove into the gates and started stabbing. The managed to shut the doors. The police came and shot the guy.”
Another Jewish local, Isaac moskovits, 22, said: “It makes you feel a bit scared, things happening around the world getting closer to home. It seems a targeted attack on the Jewish community. I think it’s antisemitism. Social media is spreading hate and violence.
“I work around Manchester and am visibly Jewish. I’ve had people shout Free Palestine at me, but I’ve never felt threatened.”
A man who lives on White House Avenue close to the synagogue said he saw two men in handcuffs being led away by police. The man, who did not wanted to be identified, told the PA news agency: “They’ve arrested two people on our road.”
He said he did not know the men, or which house they were linked to. He said he had been at work when his wife had called and told him to come home due to the incident. “They’ve closed the road and there’s a police helicopter just over us. There were six or seven police cars with armed police,” he added.
He said White House Avenue is a no-through road and is usually “very quiet”
There were a large number of people inside Heaton Park synagogue when the attacker struck.
One witness told how he saw a a man “bleeding on the floor,” then another person lying in front of a car while members of the public shouted in the background. He then saw a man carrying a knife and “stabbing the window of a nearby building “trying to get in”.
A rabbi has been hailed a hero for barricading the doors of the synagogue. He was pictured speaking to police in a blood-stained robe.
Police officers are on patrol outside the Reading Hebrew Congregation in Reading, following the fatal attack outside Heaton Park synagogue in Manchester. It comes after Keir Starmer said "additional police assets" will be deployed at synagogues across the country.
A man was seen “stabbing the window” of a nearby building before police “opened fire” on him after a horrific attack on a synagogue, according to an eyewitness. One eyewitness, Gareth, has told the BBC how he was driving a delivery van and saw part of the attack unfold. He said he was waiting in traffic thinking that there had been a crash before he saw a man “bleeding on the floor”.
Then he saw another person on the floor in front of a car and he heard people shouting. At this point he saw a man carrying a knife and “stabbing the window of a nearby building “trying to get in”.
Gareth continued: “Within seconds, the police arrived, they gave him a couple of warnings, he didn’t listen so they opened fire." The man is then said to have fallen to the floor, but Gareth added that he “started getting back up and they (the police) shot him again.”
A rabbi whose robes were seen stained with blood has been hailed as a hero for barricading the doors of the synagogue.
Rabbi Daniel Walker protected worshippers by blocking the entrance to the religious building. Someone who cited their friend, who witnessed the incident, said the "hero" rabbi remained "incredibly calm" throughout.
They told the Daily Mail: "My friend saw him crash the car near the synagogue. At first she thought he'd had a heart attack. Then he got out and started stabbing everyone he could get to. Rabbi Walker was incredibly calm, he shut the doors to the synagogue to stop him getting inside. He barricaded everyone inside. He is a hero, this could have been even worse."
A loud controlled explosion has been heard inside the police cordon.
Earlier images showed bomb disposal officers at the scene.
Manchester Council of Mosques has issued a statement in the wake of the harrowing attack.
The statement urged the community to stand "united against hatred".
"The Manchester Council of Mosques is shocked and saddened to hear of today’s stabbing outside a synagogue in Manchester", the statement reads.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families and the Jewish community at this distressing time.
"Manchester has always been a city where people of all faiths and backgrounds live side by side.
"Any attempt to divide us through violence or hatred will fail – we remain united in our commitment to peace and mutual respect.
"We urge everyone to remain calm, allow the police to carry out their investigations. And to avoid speculation.
"It is vital at moments like these that we stand together as one Manchester – united against hatred and committed to peace, justice and respect for all.”
A spokesperson for NHS Greater Manchester said:
“We are aware of the incident currently unfolding in Crumpsall and are actively supporting the multi-agency response led by Greater Manchester Police and other emergency services.
“Our priority is to ensure the safety and care of patients and staff across the region, and we are working closely with partners to manage any impact on local hospitals and emergency departments.
“We urge the public to only attend Accident & Emergency (A&E) departments if your condition is urgent or life-threatening. This will help us prioritise care for those most in need and ensure emergency teams can respond effectively to this incident.
“If you are unsure about which service to use, please contact NHS 111 online or by phone for guidance.”
The Right Reverend Dr David Walker, Bishop of Manchester, has issued this statement in response to the attack on Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue this morning.
“I am deeply shocked and saddened by the violent incident that has taken place this morning at the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in Crumpsall, Manchester. My thoughts and prayers are with all those affected – the victims, their families, and the wider Jewish community – especially on this sacred day of Yom Kippur.
“Such acts of violence have no place in our communities. Manchester is a city built on diversity, mutual respect, and unity. As we showed after the horrific terrorist attack of 2017, the way we defy those who seek to sow seeds of hatred in our community, is to draw closer to one another in love. Hate can never defeat hate, only love can conquer hate.
“Today, we stand in solidarity with our Jewish neighbours and reaffirm our shared commitment to peace and safety for all. I commend the swift response of the emergency services and offer my full support to those working to bring healing and justice in the wake of this tragedy.
“Let us continue to pray for those injured, for the community in grief, and for the courage to stand together against hatred in all its forms.”
An image of the suspect shot dead by police during a horror attack on a synagogue shows him with what appear to be explosives strapped to his body.
Police were called this morning to reports that a car was driven into pedestrians and people stabbed. It has now been confirmed that two people have died and three people were seriously injured. Video from the scene shows a man who appears to be wearing a 'bomb belt'. Other footage shows him on the ground being approached by two armed police officers.
The suspect is then shot as he tries to get up. Also visible in the foreground of the clip is another person who eyewitnesses said had been stabbed in the attack in Manchester this morning.
More here: Suspect in horror synagogue attack seen with bomb belt
Hospitals in Manchester have been placed on lockdown as a major incident is declared following today's synagogue stabbing.
Salford Royal, Fairfield General, Rochdale Infirmary, and the Royal Oldham hospitals are all no-go areas after the incident. An internal note sent by the Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the hospitals, was titled "Greater Manchester major incident declared – lockdown of our sites". No one is allowed in or out of the hospitals, according to a patient inside a medical department.
Read more here: Hospitals in Manchester placed on lockdown
An image has emerged online showing what appears to be the suspected attacker outside the synagogue.
Greater Manchester Police said they shot the man believed to be the attacker, but cannot confirm he is dead yet "due to safety issues surround suspicious items on his person".
Counter terror police have been conducting searches on nearby homes on White House Avenue, close to this morning's fatal attack.
Armed officers are standing guard at the head of a path, between houses, leading up to the back of the synagogue, MEN reports. Bomb disposal unit vans were also pictured at the scene.
Shocking video footage shows the moment armed police shoot a suspect during a terrifying attack on a synagogue.
In the clip, an officer can be heard shouting: "Everybody else, get back. If you're not involved, move back, get away… he has a bomb, go away."
Greater Manchester Police earlier confirmed that two people were killed in the attack. A third person, a man believed to be the offender, was shot by GMP firearms officers and is also believed to be deceased." The force said it cannot currently be confirmed "due to safety issues surround suspicious items on his person".
Israel's embassy in the UK has condemned the attack at Heaton Park Synagogue in Crumpsall, north Manchester.
In a statement, it said: "That such an act of violence should be perpetrated on the holiest day of the Jewish calendar, in a place of prayer and community, is abhorrent and deeply distressing."
The embassy added that it is in "close contact with Manchester Jewish community, British authorities and the Community Security Trust (CST) to monitor developments and ensure that the necessary support is provided".
"The safety and security of Jewish communities in the United Kingdom must be guaranteed," the said. "The thoughts and prayers of the people of Israel are with the victims, their families, and the entire Jewish community at this difficult time."
In a message to the Jewish community in Crumpsall, a Greater Manchester Police spokesperson said: "We know today’s horrifying attack, on the Jewish community’s holiest day, will have caused significant shock and fear throughout all of our communities.
"We are grateful to the member of the public whose quick response to what they witnessed allowed our swift action, and as a result the offender was prevented from entering the synagogue. We remain in direct contact with all synagogues across Greater Manchester to provide reassurance and this will continue for as long as needed.
"We will continue to provide updates as we can, but I would ask anyone who believes they may have a loved one involved in today’s incident, please use the Casualty Bureau information in the first instance.
"I would further ask anyone who may have images or footage relating to today’s incident, refrains from circulating them on social media – please do share directly with GMP through http://www.ukpoliceimageappeal.co.uk/."
Josh Aronson – who lives in the flats across the road – told how he heard gunshots. He said: “it was really close to my home. In the morning I heard gunshots, I know what the sound of gunshots sounds like.
“Then I heard sirens. I tried to run out but the police wouldn’t let us out of the door. Later they came and evacuated us. I saw the Rabbi walking down the road, there was blood on the floor at the bottom of his road, obviously he rushed out to help. It’s horrific. It has happened on the holiest day.”
Josh, 39, is Jewish and lived in Israel for a few years after turning 18. He said: “This is definitely linked to the Israel Palestine situation. The synagogue has been targeted. It’s terrorism isn’t it, there’s no other explanation. People are blaming the Jewish community for what is happening in the war.”
He said he was a member of the Social Democratic Party while in Israel and was now a member of the Meretz Party and had campaigned for a two state solution.
King Charles has issued a statement following the attack at Heaton Park synagogue. He said: "My wife and I have been deeply shocked and saddened to learn of the horrific attack in Manchester, especially on such a significant day for the Jewish community.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by this appalling incident and we greatly appreciate the swift actions of the emergency services."
Greater Manchester Police says five members of the public were injured in the incident. Three are seriously injured and two people have sadly died.
Greater Manchester Police says two people have died following the attack. The suspect is also believed to be dead.
The force said: "Greater Manchester Police can confirm two people have died following the major incident outside the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue, Middleton Road, Crumpsall. A third person, a man believed to be the offender, was shot by GMP firearms officers and is also believed to be deceased."
GMP said it cannot currently be confirmed "due to safety issues surround suspicious items on his person".
Greater Manchester Police says five members of the public were injured in the incident. Three are seriously injured.
One member of the public has reportedy died while another is fighting for their life, MEN reports. It adds that the suspect has also died. The Mirror has contacted Greater Manchester Police for comment.
The Community Security Trust, a British charity which protects the Jewish community, said in a statement: "CST is working with police and the local Jewish community following a serious incident at a synagogue in north Manchester. This appears to be an appalling attack on the holiest day of the Jewish year.
"We thank the GMP officers and synagogue security who responded immediately to deal with the incident."
Worried members of the Crumpsall community have gathered at the scene to speak to police.
Some say their relatives were inside the synagogue at the time of the attack, and they are yet to hear from them, Sky News reports. The Community Security Trust, a charity which protects the Jewish community, is also at the scene.
Keir Starmer is preparing to leave Copenhagen and return to London, where he will chair an emergency Cobra meeting. He said the attack is "absolutely shocking" and his thoughts are with those affected.
Starmer added: "I'm on my way back to London. When I arrive, I will chair an emergency Cobra meeting. I'm already able to say that additional police assets are being deployed to synagogues across the country, and we will do everything to keep our Jewish community safe."
A video circulating online shows two armed Greater Manchester Police officers inside the forecourt of Heaton Park synagogue, standing some distance from an individual. They are heard shouting to onlookers to stay back.
The individual is first seen on the floor before attempting to stand up. Shots can then be heard as the individual falls back to the ground.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has condemned the attack in Crumpsall and pledged to "step up" secuirty at synagogues across London.
An Army unit has now arrived at the scene on Middleton Road, according to an onlooker.
"I can see the air ambulance, which has just taken off," the witness told Manchester Evening News. "The police helicopter is still overhead. The Army guys have just turned up.
"They'e driven through the cordon with blue lights on. The bomb dispoal unit is about 200-300 yards away from the cordon. There are dozens and dozens of emergency services here. The scale of it is unreal."
Armed police, paramedics, a bomb disposal unit and the fire service have raced to Crumpsall in Manchester where helicopters are flying overhead near Heaton Park synagogue.
Members of the public have been told to avoid the area.
Get email updates with the day’s biggest stories
