Manchester attack: Police chief confirms terrorism as two dead and three injured

The counter terrorism chief has given a statement following the attack at a synagogue in Manchester this morning that saw two people killed and three injured - with armed police shooting dead the suspect.

Speaking outside New Scotland Yard, Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, has said: "The attacker has been shot dead by police, we believe we know his identity, but for safety reasons at the scene, we’re unable to confirm at this stage. We have made two further arrests. Counter terrorism have declared this a terrorist incident."

He urged the public to remain "very vigilant" in the wake of this attack. Mr Taylor added: “Those who have been killed and injured are at the forefront of our minds as are their families, friends, and all of those who love them, an attack on the Jewish community today, on Yom Kippur, is devastating.” He added that counter terrorism police are working with officers in Greater Manchester to investigate the attack.

He said: “Communities across the UK that 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 is 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.

“At counter terrorism police, we’re deploying all of our capabilities in response to what has happened, and we have resources from across our network involved. We will ensure every piece of intelligence and line of inquiry is interrogated.

“We’re working closely with the security services to ensure we have a full intelligence picture in the coming days and weeks following events in Crumpsall today. I’d also like to ask the public to remain vigilant. Please report anything that doesn’t feel right to the police, and be alert to what is happening in your own communities.”

Officers were called after a car was driven at pedestrians and a person was stabbed in a suspected terror attack on the holiest day of the Jewish calendar. Greater Manchester Police confirmed two people had been killed with three others in a serious condition following the attack outside Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue, on Middleton Road in Crumpsall. The force also confirmed the suspect was shot dead at the scene.

A bomb disposal unit was sent to the scene after footage shared on social media appeared to show members of the public shouting to firearms officers that the suspect had a bomb strapped to him. The man who was killed after shots were fired by armed police at 9.38am was pictured wearing what appeared to be a 'bomb belt'. The force initially could not confirm his death “due to safety issues surrounding suspicious items on his person”.

The area around the synagogue was swamped by dozens of police vehicles, along with fire and ambulance crews – while the force helicopter hovered overhead shortly after the incident. The surrounding streets were cordoned off with more police cars and vans, sirens blaring, racing down neighbouring roads - and later people reported two other suspects were arrested by armed officers.

Police officers dressed in black combat fatigues and carrying machine guns could also be seen inside the cordon outside the synagogue. A Jewish man, among a group of shocked onlookers at the cordon, said his wife and daughter and other members of the congregation were still inside the synagogue.