6 hours ago
Two people have died and attacker also shot in synagogue attack, police confirm
Two people have died after a suspected terror attack outside a synagogue in Crumpsall by a man who was shot dead by police, Greater Manchester Police said.
The man believed to be the attacker was shot by Greater Manchester Police firearms officers and is also believed to be dead.
However, police said it cannot currently be confirmed due to safety issues related to “suspicious items on his person”. The bomb disposal unit has been called and is at the scene.
Three other people remain in a serious condition, police said in a statement.
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Aldworth also outlined what the police’s priorities will regarding the attack at a synagogue in Manchester.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4, he said that there will be three main priorities for the police, the first being to “manage” what has happened and is happening at the scene of the incident.
The second will be to investigate their own use of lethal force, which he said is “always taken very seriously”.
Thirdly, they will be trying to work out whether the suspect was working alone or as part of a wider network, and whether there is “any other enduring threat across the UK”.
A former national coordinator for counter-terrorism policing, Nick Aldworth, has said he is “not surprised” about the attack at the synagogue on Yom Kippur, because holy days “bring an additional element of concern”.
He told BBC Radio 4:
I’m not surprised that it’s happened. Yesterday, when I was driving home, there was a feature on Radio 4, which mentioned that today was Yom Kippur - I’d forgotten. My immediate thought was ‘oh, gosh, I hope nothing awful happens’.
And the reason I say that is because, for years, we’ve recognised that high holy days bring an additional element of concern to the Jewish community and to those of us who have been tasked with protecting those communities.
And certainly in London I used to be responsible for a massive operation, probably the second biggest operation to New Year’s or Notting Hill Carnival, to actually protect those communities across the high holy day period.
So I know the same is reflected in Manchester, which may well account for why there’s been such a quick response up there today. But no, I’m not surprised.
He added that, while the UK’s threat level is currently at “substantial”, meaning an attack is likely, in fact “we often see sectors of our communities being at higher threat levels, and quite often the Jewish community sits at a higher threat level than substantial”.
Party leaders condemn attack on Manchester Synagogue on Yom Kippur. Keir Starmer, Kemi Badenoch, Ed Davey and Nigel Farage express sympathy.
The Prince and Princess of Wales said in a personal message posted on social media: “Our thoughts are with the victims and the families of the terrible attack at Heaton Park Synagogue.
“The fact that this tragedy occurred on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, makes it all the more shocking.
“We are thinking of the entire community as well as the emergency responders who attended this terrible incident.”
The message was signed “W & C”.
Attack likely to be terrorist in motive, officials police
Vikram Dodd
Counter-terrorism officials now believe the attack on a Manchester synagogue was likely to be terrorist in motive.
Josh Halliday
Police have carried out a controlled explosion of the suspect’s car.
A police source confirmed that other arrests had taken place - but could not say how many.
More policing activity is ongoing in the area, they said.
The prime minister has arrived back in the UK to chair a Cobra meeting following the attack in Greater Manchester.
Keir Starmer landed back in the UK at around 2.30pm, and will return to Downing Street before chairing the meeting. He had been attending a European summit in Denmark when the incident occurred.
The Bishop of Manchester, the Rt Rev Dr David Walker, has said it is important not to allow rhetoric “get ahead of our humanity” as he responded to the attack at a synagogue in his diocese.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s World At One, he said: “It’s really important that we recognise the power of our words, and that we that we don’t allow our rhetoric to get ahead of our humanity.”
Asked whether he thinks that has been happening in political discussions lately, he said: “I think it’s been happening. It’s not a phenomenon restricted to United Kingdom, I think it’s across the world.
“The fact that it was such a stark contrast when the wife of a man murdered in the USA a couple of weeks ago actually came out and said hate is not the answer, love is the answer, even to the extent that she would forgive the perpetrator...
“I mean, that was a remarkable statement, but it was remarkable partly because it contrasts so much with the rhetoric that we that we’re getting in the USA and elsewhere: a rising tide of, often political leaders or aspiring political leaders for whom division is a useful tool to play.
“And I hope that this event just makes it more clear than ever that that is not the way for a mature society to go.”
He said that he hopes the attack on the synagogue will “cause us all to take careful stock of who we are and what we are and what sort of society we want to be, and that short-term political gain is no excuse for long-term damage to the fabric of our communities”.
Greater Manchester Police said in a statement: “We can confirm three people have died, including the offender, who was shot by GMP Firearms officers.”
The statement said: “In response to today’s major incident in Crumpsall, a loud noise was heard at the scene as specialist resources gained entry to the suspect’s vehicle as a precaution.
“There is no risk to the public and ongoing activity in relation to this major incident can be expected as we continue our enquiries.
“People are urged to avoid the area and speak to our officers if they have any concerns. We have officers deployed across key sites in the local area.
“We can confirm three people have died, including the offender, who was shot by GMP Firearms officers.
“If you are worried about family or friends who may be involved in today’s incident at the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue, you can call the Casualty Bureau on 0800 056 0154 or complete the online form here: Public Portal”
Suspect in the attack is dead, police confirm
Greater Manchester Police have confirmed that the suspect in the Manchester synagogue attack is dead after being shot by armed officers.
