Manchester synagogue latest: Police name terrorist attack suspect as Jihad Al-Shamie

Officers were called to the scene at 9.31am by a member of the public who said he had seen a car being driven towards people, and one man had been stabbed.

Police arrived shortly afterwards and declared “Plato”, the national code word used by police and emergency services when responding to a “marauding terror attack”, and a major incident at 9.37am.

Footage on social media appeared to show members of the public shouting to firearms officers that the suspect had a bomb strapped to him.

Police later confirmed the terrorist was wearing “a vest which had the appearance of an explosive device”.

Video posted on social media appeared to show officers pointing guns at someone lying on the ground outside the front of the synagogue.

The officers shout at onlookers to “get back” and “move on”.

The person on the ground starts to get up before there is the sound of a gunshot and they fall to the ground.

Another person was shown lying motionless on the ground outside the synagogue gates with blood near their head.

Flags will be flown at half mast on UK government buildings until 8pm on Friday following today’s attack in Manchester

The Speaker has also agreed that flags in House of Commons will be lowered for Manchester until 8pm tomorrow night.

Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis has described today’s events as “the day we hoped we would never see”.

“Our hearts are shattered,” he said in a statement on X.

“Emerging from the holy fast of Yom Kippur, British Jews are now grasping the full extent of today’s terror attack at the Heaton Park Synagogue in Manchester. This is the day we hoped we would never see, but which deep down, we knew would come.

“For so long we have witnessed an unrelenting wave of Jew hatred on our streets, on campuses, on social media and elsewhere – this is the tragic result.

“This not only an assault on the Jewish community, but an attack on the very foundations of humanity and the values of compassion, dignity and respect which we all share.

“I have spoken this evening to Rabbi Daniel Walker, the spiritual leader of the Heaton Park Synagogue. His courageous leadership, together with the resilience of his congregation, are an inspiration to us all.

“May the victims’ memories be for a blessing and may the injured be granted a swift recovery. I pray that this tragedy strengthens our collective resolve to confront antisemitism, in all its guises, once and for all.”

“The investigation into the attack outside the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in north Manchester this morning continues.

“We can confirm that three suspects are currently in custody and have been arrested on suspicion of commission, preparation and instigation of acts of terrorism. They are two men in their 30s and a woman in her 60s.

“Scenes remain in place on White House Avenue, Crumpsall and Langley Crescent, Prestwich, which are also linked to the arrests.

“We are now able to confirm that, although formal identification is yet to take place, we believe the person responsible for today’s attacks is 35-year-old Jihad Al-Shamie. He is a British citizen of Syrian descent.

“A suspicious device worn by the attacker during the incident has been assessed and was deemed not to be viable.

“Based on what we currently know, our records do not show any previous Prevent referrals relating to this individual.

“Two innocent men were sadly pronounced dead following the incident.

“Three other men remain in hospital with serious injuries. One sustained a stab wound and a second was struck by the car involved in the attack.

“The third man later presented himself at hospital with an injury that may have been sustained as officers stopped the attacker.

“We are working to formally identify those who have tragically been killed and provide support to their loved ones, in addition to the injured and the wider community.

“We are working to understand the motivation behind the attack as the investigation continues.”

Two men were killed in the terrorist attack outside a Manchester synagogue, Greater Manchester Police have said.

Three other men remain in hospital with serious injuries following the attack outside the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in Crumpsall.

One sustained a stab wound and a second was struck by the car involved in the attack, the force said.

The third man later presented himself at hospital with an injury that may have been sustained as officers stopped the attacker.