Two Dead in Car and Stabbing Attack at Synagogue
BBC News
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Two people have died after a car and stabbing attack at a synagogue in Manchester – here's what we know so far
A third person – thought to be the suspect – is believed to be dead after being shot by police
Police say the suspect's condition cannot be confirmed due to "suspicious items on his person", with a bomb disposal unit at the scene
"Get back, he has a bomb!" Footage from the scene shows police warning members of the public – with a picture showing a man with items round his waist
Three other members of the public are in a serious condition, with police saying a "large number of people" were worshipping at the synagogue – today is Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar
Police were called to the Heaton Park Synagogue at 09:31BST by someone who saw a car being driven at members of the public, and one man stabbed
One witness tells the BBC the police gave the suspect "a couple of warnings – he didn't listen so they opened fire"
Keir Starmer has ended a trip to Denmark early, and says there will be extra police deployed at synagogues across the country
You can watch our coverage live at the top of the page, or listen live to BBC Radio Manchester
Edited by Owen Amos and Dulcie Lee, with Anna Jameson reporting from the scene
BBC Verify can confirm that a still image said to show the perpetrator of today's attack in Manchester was taken from just outside the perimeter fence of the scene of the attack.
The individual's appearance – bald head, beard, dark clothes, white objects around his waist – matches that of a man seen being apparently shot by police at the same location in verified video from the scene of the attack.
No copies of the image have been found to have been uploaded prior to today's attack. The photograph was taken on the western side of the Heaton Park synagogue. 
Aleem Maqbool
Religion editor
The timing of an attack on the holiest day of the Jewish calendar feels to many like it is designed to maximise the hurt felt across Jewish communities.
Yom Kippur is a day of fasting and atonement and believed to be the day God seals the fate of each person for the coming years.
It is a solemn day on which work is forbidden and is set aside for prayer and reflection.
It is also a day when many who do not regularly attend synagogue services do so. As such, security is often increased on Yom Kippur.
An attack on a synagogue in Halle, Germany in 2019 in which two people were killed also took place on Yom Kippur. Some Jews do not access social media or television during this holy day, so many may only find out about Manchester attack at nightfall.
We can bring you footage as the incident unfolded, which shows police trying to get members of the public away from the suspect.
"Everybody else, get back. If you're not involved, move back, get away… he has a bomb, go away," an officer can be heard shouting.
This video can not be played
Watch: Armed police at the scene of Manchester synagogue attack
Following that latest update from police, here's everything we know so far:
The victims:
The suspect:
The attack:
Emergency meeting:
We're now hearing from the King, who says he and Queen Camilla are "deeply shocked and saddened" to hear about the attack in Manchester.
"Especially on such a significant day for the Jewish community," he says in a statement.
"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 "three other members of the public remain in a serious condition".
"A large number of people worshipping at the synagogue at the time of the incident were held inside while the immediate area was made safe, but have since been evacuated," they add.
The bomb disposal unit has been called and is now at the scene, Greater Manchester Police says.
A few moments ago we had this photo of what appears to be a bomb disposal robot inside the cordon
More from the police now: "A third person, a man believed to be the offender, was shot by GMP Firearms Officers and is also believed to be deceased."
Police say the suspect's condition cannot be confirmed due to "suspicious items on his person", with a bomb disposal unit at the scene.
Greater Manchester Police says two people have died following the major incident.
Olivia Gold, who lives in the area, came to see what was happening when she heard helicopters overhead.
"It's just horrendous," she tells PA Media. "We're a quiet community, just leave us alone. We don't want any of this.
"It's just four people who have been injured – thankfully no one was killed as far as I know.
"I think the response by police has been absolutely brilliant. They got here really, really quickly."
By Matt Murphy
Warning: This post contains graphic content
As we've been reporting, BBC Verify has authenticated footage circulating online which appears to show the moment police opened fire on a man at the Manchester Synagogue.
In the clip – which appears to have been taken by a passerby – two armed officers can be seen standing pointing their weapons at a figure lying prone on the ground.
As the camera pans, a different person is seen lying at the gate to the synagogue surrounded by a pool of blood and a black car stopped immediately to his right.
One of the officers then approaches the fence, where a small group of people had gathered, and shouts: "Everybody else, he has a bomb. Go away."
Seconds later the figure being watched by police appears to attempt to stand up. Sharp cracks ring out and the man falls to the ground.
Today's incident comes on Yom Kippur – the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.
And, we're now seeing images of people gathering outside the synagogue in Manchester where the stabbing took place.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer says "additional police assets" will be deployed at synagogues across the country after the attack in Manchester.
Speaking as he flew back to the UK from a summit, to chair an emergency meeting on the incident, Starmer says: "We will do everything to keep our Jewish community safe."
Warning: This post contains graphic content
Our colleagues at BBC Radio Manchester have been speaking to Gareth, an eyewitness, who says he was driving his delivery van at the time of the incident.
He says he was held back in traffic, assumed it was a "normal collision", but as he got closer he saw a man "bleeding out on the floor".
Gareth says he saw another man "laying on the floor" in front of a car, and he could hear people shouting.
He then describes seeing another person, a man, who he says had a knife and was "stabbing the window" of a nearby building "trying to get in".
"Within seconds, the police arrived, they gave him a couple of warnings, he didn’t listen so they opened fire," Gareth explains, saying the man holding the knife then went down on the floor.
The man then "started getting back up and they [the police] shot him again", Gareth says – describing it as "nerve-racking" to see.
By Matt Murphy
Police say this morning's attack took place at the Heaton Park synagogue in the Crumpsall area of Manchester.
Officers were called to the scene at 09:31 BST, Greater Manchester Police said in a statement.
It's about 4 miles (6km) from the city centre of Manchester:
Anna Jameson
Reporting from the scene
I’m currently standing at the police cordon just on the edge of Middleton Road, where the incident has taken place.
Helicopters are flying overhead, we’ve got sirens going every two minutes, police have cordoned off the site. I’ve seen paramedics and the fire service all on site.
A major incident – and Operation Plato – has been declared.
Lots of members of the public, including members of the Jewish community, are gathering round now to see what has happened.
Understandably, a huge shock to the people of Greater Manchester this morning.
Asked about the synagogue attack in Manchester, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch tells the BBC it looks like "an outrageous attack on the Jewish community on their holiest day" – calling it "vile and disgusting".
Police tell the BBC one of those injured is a security guard.
To recap, police say four people were hurt in the attack, and the suspect was shot. The Manchester mayor says the suspect is believed to be dead, but their condition hasn't yet been confirmed.
Here's a fuller rundown of what we know so far.
Chris Mason
Political editor
The prime minister will chair a meeting of the government’s emergency COBR committee in London this afternoon.Chris Mason
Political editor
The prime minister is to fly back from the European Political Community gathering in Copenhagen early, after the attack at a synagogue in Manchester.
Keir Starmer has been briefed in the last few minutes in the Danish capital, and will return home shortly.
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