A man believed to be responsible for an attack outside a synagogue has been pictured for the first time. Two people were killed and at least three others seriously injured after a car was driven at members of the public and a man was stabbed outside the venue in Middleton Road, Crumpsall, on Thursday (October 2).

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said the man, who is believed to be the offender, was shot by armed officers. The force confirmed he was also among the dead. Police said they had “declared Plato” – the national code-word used by police and emergency services when responding to a “marauding terror attack”.

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. A white lorry marked “bomb disposal” later arrived at the scene and went behind the cordon outside the synagogue.

The Prime Minister flew home early from a meeting of European leaders in Denmark in order to chair a Cobra meeting after the incident. Sir Keir Starmer said he was “appalled” at the attack, adding: “The fact that this has taken place on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, makes it all the more horrific.”

In a statement, the force said: “Police were called to the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue, on Middleton Road, Crumpsall, at 9.31am by a member of the public, stating he had witnessed a car being driven towards members of the public and one man had been stabbed.” The force said it declared a major incident at 9.37am.

The statement continued: “Shots were fired by Greater Manchester Police firearms officers at 9.38am. One man has been shot, believed to be the offender. Paramedics arrived at the scene at 9.41am and are tending to members of the public.

“(There are) currently four members of the public with injuries caused by both the vehicle and stab wounds. Members of the public are asked to avoid the area while the police continue to deal with the incident.”

Video shared on social media appeared to show police officers pointing guns at someone lying on the ground outside the front of the synagogue. The armed officers shouted at onlookers to “get back” and “move on”.

The person on the ground is seen starting 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.

The area around the synagogue was surrounded 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.

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.

A number of black, unmarked police 4×4 vehicles and vans carrying plain clothes officers with face coverings were seen leaving the area of the incident at speed.

A Jewish man said: “It is the holiest day of the year and we get this. There is no place for Jews in Britain anymore. It’s over.”

North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) said resources had been sent to the scene. In a statement, NWAS said: “Our priority is to ensure people receive the medical help they need as quickly as possible.”

The reported stabbings come as members of the Jewish community observe Yom Kippur. Yom Kippur is considered the holiest day in the Jewish calendar and is a time when synagogues are usually particularly busy.

Dave Rich, of the Community Security Trust (CST) – a charity that monitors antisemitism in the UK, said the day is similar to Christmas Day for Christians, but is a day of solemnity and fasting rather than celebration.

He said: “Yom Kippur is the holiest day of the Jewish year. It’s a very solemn day and synagogues across the country will be full throughout the day. There’s always a significant security operation in place between police and CST across the Jewish community on all major Jewish festivals.”

The head of the Rabbinic Court of Great Britain said fears which had already existed in the Jewish community due to heightened tensions following the October 7 Hamas attacks and Israel’s military action in Gaza will increase.

Rabbi Jonathan Romain, emeritus rabbi of Maidenhead Synagogue, said he felt “appalled” by the attack in Manchester. He said: “This is every Rabbi’s or every Jewish person’s worst nightmare.

“Not only is this a sacred day, the most sacred in the Jewish calendar, but it’s also a time of mass gathering, and the time when the Jewish community, however religious or irreligious, gathers together.”

He said it appears tensions over the war in Gaza had “spilled over” to the UK, despite efforts to stop that happening.

Earlier this year, the CST said Jews were facing “more hatred and pressure” than they have for decades after the organisation recorded more than 3,500 incidents in 2024.

Reports of antisemitism reached a record high in 2023 at 4,296 – the year that saw the October 7 attack by Hamas on Israel and the subsequent military action in the region that has continued since.

A more recent report by the CST showed there were 1,521 antisemitic incidents across the UK in the first half of this year.

The Israeli embassy condemned the incident in Greater Manchester, describing it as “abhorrent and deeply distressing”.

A statement released by the embassy said: “The embassy of Israel in the United Kingdom condemn the attack carried out today on Yom Kippur at the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in Manchester.

“That such an act of violence should be perpetrated on the holiest day of the Jewish calendar, in a place of prayer and community, is abhorrent and deeply distressing.

“The embassy is in close contact with Manchester Jewish community, British authorities and the Community Security Trust (CST) to monitor developments, and ensure that the necessary support is provided.

“We thank the Greater Manchester Police for their swift response. The safety and security of Jewish communities in the United Kingdom must be guaranteed.

“The thoughts and prayers of the people of Israel are with the victims, their families and the entire Jewish community at this difficult time.”