Two people were murdered after a man carried out a ramming and stabbing terror attack outside an Orthodox synagogue in Manchester on the morning of Yom Kippur on Thursday.
Greater Manchester Police, the following morning, named Adrian Daulby and Melvin Cravitz, both from Crumpsall, as those killed in the attack.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) were called to Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue, on Middleton Road, Crumpsall, at 9:31 a.m. on Friday by a member of the public, who said he had witnessed a car being driven towards members of the public, and then exiting the car and stabbing people.
GMP declared Operation PLATO (the response to Marauding Terror Attacks) and a major incident at 9:37 a.m. Shots were fired by Greater Manchester Police firearms officers at 9.38am, and a man believed to be the attacker was shot.
Paramedics arrived at the scene at 9:41 a.m. and began tending to members of the public, including four members of the public with injuries caused by both the vehicle ramming and stab wounds. Counterterrorism police and MI5 subsequently joined the investigation.
After midday, Greater Manchester Police announced that two people had been killed outside the synagogue, as well as the attacker himself. GMP also said that suspicious items had been found on the attacker's body, so the bomb disposal unit had been called and was at the scene.
Police said that the suspect in the deadly attack outside a synagogue in Manchester in northern England was believed to be Jihad al-Shamie, a 35-year-old British citizen of Syrian descent.
Photos soon circulated on social media of the attacker wearing what appeared to be a belt with explosives on. Police carried out a loud controlled explosion at around 1:30 p.m. British standard time.
"We believe the person responsible for today's attacks is 35-year-old Jihad Al-Shamie," Greater Manchester Police said late on Thursday. "He is a British citizen of Syrian descent."
Al-Shamie was shot dead by armed officers after ramming a car into pedestrians and stabbing at least one person near a synagogue during Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.
The police added that three suspects - two men in their 30s and a woman in her 60s - were currently in custody and "have been arrested on suspicion of commission, preparation and instigation of acts of terrorism."
According to GMP, a large number of people were worshipping at the synagogue at the time of the incident. The congregation was held inside while the immediate area was made safe but have since been evacuated.
Members of the Jewish community security trust were manning the police cordon.
A Jewish man, whose wife and daughter were inside the synagogue, told local reporters "It is the holiest day of the year and we get this."
"There is no place for Jews in Britain anymore. It’s over."
Local Jewish woman Chava Lewin told the Manchester Evening News: "I was outside and heard a banging sound and I thought it might be a firework. My husband went outside and then ran back inside and said, ‘there’s been a terrorist attack."
"I spoke to someone who said she was driving and saw a car driving erratically and it crashed into the gates [of the synagogue]."
"The second he got out of the car he started stabbing anyone near him. He went for the security guard and tried to break into the synagogue. He was in the courtyard."
According to the city's mayor, the Jewish security guard outside the synagogue prevented the attacker from entering the building, and was stabbed in the process.
Police, mayor respond to 'vile attack' as Starmer deploys police to synagogues across UK
“We know today’s horrifying attack, on the Jewish community’s holiest day, will have caused significant shock and fear throughout all of our communities," said a Greater Manchester Police spokesperson.
“We are grateful to the members of the public whose quick response to what they witnessed allowed our swift action, and as a result the offender was prevented from entering the synagogue."
“We remain in direct contact with all synagogues across Greater Manchester to provide reassurance and this will continue for as long as needed.
Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, condemned the "vile attack on our Jewish community on its holiest day. We stand with GM’s Jewish community at this time and will work through the day to support them," he added.
In another statement, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he was "appalled" by the attack on Jewish worshippers during Yom Kippur.
"I’m appalled by the attack at a synagogue in Crumpsall," he wrote on X. "The fact that this has taken place on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, makes it all the more horrific.
"My thoughts are with the loved ones of all those affected, and my thanks go to the emergency services and all the first responders."
Starmer also said police were being deployed to synagogues across the country. "I'm already able to say that additional police assets are being deployed to synagogues across the country, and we will do everything to keep our Jewish community safe," Starmer said on Thursday, as he left a European political meeting in Copenhagen early to deal with the incident.
Starmer described the attacker as a "vile individual" who was motivated by the desire to attack Jews "because they are Jews."
"To every Jewish person in this country, I want to say this, I know how much fear you will be holding inside of you. I really do," he said, "and so on behalf of our country, I express my solidarity, but also my sadness that you still have to live with these fears. Nobody should have to do that. Nobody."
Starmer's wife is Jewish and he has previously spoken about his connection to the faith.
Jewish schools and synagogues across the country have been provided with additional security. The UK's terrorism threat level is said to also be under review following the attack.
Jerusalem Post Staff contributed to this report.