The terrorist who killed two Jewish men outside a synagogue on the holiest day of the religion’s calendar was a British citizen of Syrian descent, police said.
Three people have been arrested on suspicion of planning a terror attack in connection with the killings carried out by Jihad Al-Shamie, Greater Manchester Police added.
Al-Shamie (35) was shot dead by police seven minutes after officers were alerted to the attack on Thursday morning.
The force said two men aged in their 30s and a woman in her 60s have been arrested on suspicion of commission, preparation and instigation of acts of terrorism connected to the incident.
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It is understood that Al-Shamie’s name has not appeared in initial searches of police and security service records, and he is not thought to have been under current investigation.
Three other men remain in hospital with serious injuries following the attack outside the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in Crumpsall.
Further checks are being carried out to see if any of his details appear anywhere in records of other investigations.
Earlier on Thursday, the attack was declared a terrorist incident by authorities.
At a press conference earlier on Thursday, the Metropolitan Police’s head of counter-terrorism policing, assistant commissioner Laurence Taylor, said the identity of the suspect is known to police, but it could not be disclosed because of “safety reasons at the scene”.
Greater Manchester Police said a bomb disposal unit was sent to the synagogue.
Police declared a major incident at 9.37am after receiving a call from a man who said he had witnessed a car being driven towards members of the public and that one man had been stabbed.
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.
Police confirmed the suspect is dead after shots were fired by armed police at 9.38am.
The force initially could not confirm his death “due to safety issues surrounding suspicious items on his person”.
A picture of the alleged attacker, circulating online, showed a man with a beard and dark clothing standing outside the synagogue with unidentified objects strapped to his waist.
He can also be seen holding something in his hand.
After the attack, the force said a loud explosion could be heard as “specialist resources gained entry to the suspect’s vehicle as a precaution”.
UK prime minister Keir Starmer said “additional police assets” will be deployed at synagogues across the country following the attack.
Mr Starmer flew home early from a meeting of European leaders. Commenting on the attack, he said: “I’m appalled by the attack ... the fact that this has taken place on Yom Kippur ... makes it all the more horrific.”
The attack comes as members of the Jewish community observe Yom Kippur – considered the holiest day in the Jewish calendar and a time when synagogues are usually particularly busy.
President Michael D Higgins said in a statement on Thursday night: “I join with all those who have condemned this attack on the Jewish community in Britain, a community that has a proud tradition in the history of human rights.
“May I express my condolences to the relatives of those who have been killed and to other members of the Jewish community, and wish a speedy recovery to those who have been injured.”
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch said: “I think it is a vile and disgusting attack. I know that many Jewish people in our country feel that they’re no longer safe and my heart goes out to the people who have been hurt by this, and everyone who’s been affected.”
A witness told BBC Radio Manchester he saw the armed police officers shoot the suspect twice, once after he tried to get back up off the ground.
The speaker told the station that he was driving in the area making deliveries when he saw what he thought initially was a car crash.
He said: “We got a bit closer, we’ve seen a guy bleeding out on the floor. He was just basically unconscious on the floor, presumed, obviously dead.
“There was a guy in front of the car – he just lay on the floor. We couldn’t really see him.
“There was a few people stood on the road, somebody shouted ‘He’s in the school’ or the synagogue.
“And then as we looked over, the guy had a knife, and he was just stabbing the window trying to get in the school. And then within seconds, the police arrived.
“They give him a couple of warnings, he didn’t listen, so they opened fire. He went down on the floor, and then he started getting back up, and then they shot him again.” – PA
