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Suspect shot dead by armed police following car and knife attack on Yom Kippur, the holiest day on the Jewish calendar
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Counter terror police have confirmed the attack on the synagogue in Greater Manchester is being treated as a terror incident.
Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, the national head of counter-terrorism policing, also confirmed two arrests have been made in a statement outside New Scotland Yard in London.
Two people died in the attack and a suspect has been shot dead by officers outside a synagogue.
Dozens of armed officers, fire and ambulance crews remain on the scene at the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue, on Middleton Road in Crumpsall, and a bomb disposal unit has been deployed following reports that the suspect had a bomb strapped to him.
Shocked members of the community have gathered outside as the attack comes on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish religious calendar.
Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer said he was “appalled” by the attack and confirmed that “additional police assets” will be deployed at synagogues across the country as he returned to the UK from Denmark to chair an emergency Cobra meeting.
The mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, said it is a “serious incident” and advised people to avoid the area.
In a joint statement, Crumpsall local councillors Nasrin Ali, Jawad Amin and Fiaz Riasat said: “Today, Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, should have been a special time for our Jewish communities – a time of reflection, atonement and peace.
“Instead, Crumpsall has been shocked by the horrifying and senseless attack on a place of worship – an act that we condemn in the strongest possible terms.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families, along with the entire Jewish community in Manchester and further afield.
“We will always stand against hatred and we offer our Jewish friends solidarity and our full support at this time.”
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has arrived at Downing Street in order to chair a Cobra meeting following the fatal terrorist incident at a synagogue in Manchester.
He did not answer any questions from reporters as he entered Number 10 at around 3.40pm, having flown home early from a meeting of European leaders in Denmark.
Crime correspondent Amy-Clare Martin reports:
Police are “mobilising fast” to protect Jewish communities across the country after the deadly attack on a Manchester synagogue was declared a terrorist attack.
Head of Counter Terrorism Policing Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor said the car and knife attack on Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, was “appalling”.
He vowed that policing is stepping efforts to protect Jewish communities which have faced a surge in antisemitic incidents since the events of 7 October 2023.
“An attack on our Jewish community today on Yom Kippur is devastating,” he said. “Communities across the UK would normally be marking this holy day are now grieving and worried about their safety, and I want to be clear, UK policing is mobilising, and it’s mobilising fast
“Police forces are stepping up patrols across the country at synagogues and Jewish sites, and more widely, to provide reassurance to all those communities who have been affected by this incident.”
As Counter Terrorism Police have shared new information following the synagogue attack in Crumsall, here’s what we still don’t know:
The Head of Counter Terrorism Policing Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor has revealed that two arrests have been made after an attacker was shot dead by the police and declared the attack a “terrorist incident”.
Now, we await a statement from Greater Manchester Police originally scheduled for 3.15pm. Stay tuned for more news.
Speaking outside New Scotland Yard, Head of Counter Terrorism Policing Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor said: “This morning, an appalling attack took place in Crumpsall in Manchester. Two people have died. The attacker has been shot dead by the police.
“We believe we know their identity, but for safety reasons at the scene, we’re unable to confirm at this stage.
“Three other members of the public are in a serious condition. We have also made two further arrests, and based on what we know, counter terrorism policing has declared this as a terrorist incident.”
Counter terrorism police are working with officers in Greater Manchester to investigate the attack.
Mr Taylor added: “Those who have been killed injured at the forefront of our minds as of their families, friends, and all of those who love them and attack them on Jewish community today on Yom Kippur is devastating.”
As well as making two further arrests, the Head of Counter Terrorism Policing Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor has declared a “terrorist incident” and specialist teams are leading the investigation.
“As we do this, those who have been killed and injured are the forefront of our minds, as are their families, friends and all those who love them. An attack on our Jewish community, today on Yom Kippur, is devastating.”
Following the events of Crumsall today, the Head of Counter Terrorism Police has called on the public to remain vigilant.
As concern continues among the Jewish community, the Head of CTP said that police forces were stepping up patrols across the country.
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