Two Killed in Manchester Synagogue Attack
BBC News
This video can not be played
Police say the deadly attack on a synagogue in Manchester has been declared a terrorist incident
Two people died in the car and stabbing attack, while four others are in hospital
Meanwhile, Keir Starmer says the UK must defeat rising antisemitic hate, and tells Jewish people he'll do everything in his power to protect them
Police earlier said the attacker was stopped from entering the synagogue by the bravery of security staff and worshippers – here's what else they said
Counter-terror officers also say they believe they know the identity of the attacker – who was shot dead within seven minutes of 999 being called; two other people have been arrested
Video of the incident shows police shouting "get back – he has a bomb!" but officers later confirm the device was "not viable"
Police say a "large number of people" were worshipping at the Heaton Park synagogue – today is Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar
One witness tells the BBC the police gave the suspect "a couple of warnings – he didn't listen so they opened fire"
Meanwhile, Keir Starmer has chaired an emergency Cobra meeting after saying that extra police will be deployed at synagogues across the country
Edited by Matt Spivey and Jamie Whitehead, with Anna Jameson reporting from the scene
Starmer continues his statement by paying his condolences to the families of the victims of this morning's attack. He also thanks emergency responders for helping prevent "an even greater tragedy".
Directly addressing the Jewish community, Starmer says, "on behalf of our country I express our solidarity, but also my sadness you should still live with these fears".
He adds that he will do everything in his power to "guarantee you the security you deserve" and assures them they will soon see the "Britain of decency, of compassion and of love".
"We'll come together to wrap our arms around your community. We will show you Britain is a country where you and your family can be safe, secure and belong", he says as he ends his statement.
We've just heard from UK PM Keir Starmer.
Speaking after an emergency Cobra committee meeting in Downing Street, he says that earlier today "a vile individual committed a terrorist attack".
He says the individual "attacked Jews because they are Jews and attacked Britain because of our values".
Britain is a country that has welcomed Jewish communities and has provided refuge and a home, he says.
But Britain is also a country were Jewish buildings require round-the-clock protection and specialist security is necessary "because of the daily threat of antisemitic hatred", Starmer says.
He says this is not a new hatred but one that is "rising once again" and Britain must "defeat it once again". 
Frank Gardner
Security correspondent
The Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC) – which takes its decisions independently from the government – is currently assessing whether to raise the National Terrorism Threat Level, which is presently at Substantial – the middle one out of five levels.
Much will depend on what is known about the perpetrator once all his digital devices have been explored.
Whitehall officials will not yet confirm if he was on a known database but they are working on the assumption that his motives were jihadist in nature.
A key question is whether he was a lone operator, self-radicalised, or affiliated with a wider organisation like ISIS or al-Qaeda.
The speed of the armed police response – seven minutes – was not, as some media is reporting, due to it being an "intelligence-led" operation, which they said it was not.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) have now confirmed that the device the suspect was wearing during the synagogue attack was "not viable".
Earlier, pictures showed the suspect wearing items round his waist.
GMP also confirms that Operation Plato has been stood down, but says "major incident status remains".
As we reported earlier, Operation Plato is a set of responses by the emergency services to large-scale incidents including "marauding terrorist attacks".
Chris Mason
Political editor
The emergency Cobra committee meeting has finished.
It lasted around an hour.
Steven Hirst was pulled over by the police when he drove near the scene
Steven Hirst says he had just left his home when emergency services descended on the area.
“I got pulled over by a police officer and he told me ‘get out of your car and get down the road’."
Claire Senechko, who has lived in the area for four years, says she found out about the attack through her mother.
“I was shocked, as I’m round the corner,” she says. “It’s scary knowing it’s on your front door.”
Claire Senechko says the area is usually very quiet
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood will also be attending today's Cobra meeting – though she'll be dialling in from Greater Manchester.
Earlier, Mahmood – who attended Greater Manchester Police HQ – wrote on social media: "I am horrified by the news of an attack at a synagogue in Manchester today, on the holiest day in the Jewish calendar."
After arriving in Greater Manchester, the home secretary has spoken to Chief Constable Stephen Watson, Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham and Jewish leaders – including Marc Levy of the Jewish Leadership Council.
Anna Jameson
Reporting from the scene
I’ve been speaking to a number of people at the scene.
One person told me today’s congregation would have been larger than at any other day in the year, with many non-religious people attending for Yom Kippur.
Many say today’s attack was shocking but not surprising.
Others, including a Muslim businessman, Sham Raja, tell me there’s no room for hate of any kind in Manchester.
As we've just reported, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has arrived at Downing Street to chair a Cobra committee emergency meeting.
Starmer cut his trip to Copenhagen short, where he was attending a leaders summit, due to the synagogue attack.
We're now seeing images of the Met Police Chief Mark Rowley and Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy also arriving at Downing Street.
We'll bring you the key news lines that come out of the meeting as we get them.
Police chief Mark Rowley
Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy
Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government Steve Reed
Met Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor
Greater Manchester Police Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson has just wrapped up his statement.
Here are the key lines:
As a reminder, we also heard from the counter-terrorism police chief a short while ago – you can find a recap of what he said in our previous post.
Meanwhile, a few moments ago, we saw Prime Minister Keir Starmer arrive in Downing Street to chair a meeting of the emergency Cobra committee.
The prime minister was at a leaders summit in Copenhagen but cut the trip short in response to the incident.
Watson rounds off his news conference by asking for patience, but stresses that the "highly visible" response to the incident will be sustained as investigations continue.
He asks people to refrain from sharing content online and says they should instead send it to the police.
With that, Watson leaves the podium. We'll bring you a recap of the key lines shortly, stay with us.
Speaking in more detail on the attack at the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue, Watson says: "At this time we know that a car was driven directly at members of the public."
Watson shares his gratitude with members of the public who called the police "as soon as they saw what was happening".
This allowed the "quick response from our officers," Watson adds, saying the officers were able to act "swiftly and bravely".
Chief Constable Watson says inquiries are moving "at pace" both across Greater Manchester and beyond, and that updates will be giving as soon as they can.
Their priority, right now, is to "keep the public safe".
Speaking on the attacker, Watson says he was wearing a vest "which had the appearance of an explosive device".
Watson thanks security staff and worshippers for their bravery in helping to prevent the attacker gaining access to the synagogue.
"There were a large number of worshippers attending the synagogue at the time of this attack but thanks to the immediate bravery of security staff and the worshippers inside as well as the fast response of the police, the attacker was prevented from gaining access," Watson says.
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Bravery of worshippers and security stopped attacker entering synagogue – police say
Four further people remain in hospital, having suffered a variety of serious injuries, Watson says.
Greater Manchester Police Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson says two members of Manchester's Jewish community have sadly died as a result of the attack.
The suspect was fatally shot by officers within seven minutes of the original call, he adds.
Greater Manchester Police Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson is giving a statement following a synagogue attack in Manchester.
You can watch the statement live above.
We'll bring you all the key updates, stay with us.
We can now bring you a photo, via the Reuters news agency, from the scene of the synagogue attack, which shows the body of the attacker being examined by a bomb disposal technician.
On the right-hand side, a bomb disposal robot can be seen. A knife is nearby, as well as items that were thought to have been strapped to the attacker's waist.
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Attack has been declared a 'terrorist incident' says Laurence Taylor
We've just finished hearing from counter-terrorism policing Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor – and are due to get a separate update from Greater Manchester Police in the next few moments.
The assistant commissioner said he was "devastated" – here are the key lines:
Watch the next police statement live above shortly.
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