ITV News obtains first photo believed to show Manchester synagogue attacker Jihad Al-Shamie
Two members of Manchester’s Jewish community died after a 35-year-old man, named as Jihad Al-Shamie, drove his car into worshippers outside the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue and launched a knife attack
Two Jewish people have been killed after a car and knife attack at a synagogue in Manchester.
The suspect, who was shot dead by firearms officers, has been identified by ITV News as Jihad Al-Shamie.
Four people remain in serious condition in hospital.
Three arrests have been made and counter terrorism policing has declared it a terrorist incident.
ITV News can exclusively reveal the first image of the Manchester synagogue attacker, who has been identified as Jihad Al-Shamie.
In a statement Greater Manchester Police confirmed that, although formal identification is yet to take place, they believe the person responsible for Thursday’s attack is the 35-year-old.
According to the force he is “a British citizen of Syrian descent”.
ITV News understands he was a father and his family had lived in Greater Manchester for at least 30 years.
Al-Shamie was understood to have entered the UK as a young child and been granted British citizenship in 2006 when he was around the age of 16.His father appears to have worked as a trauma surgeon for several NGOs in warzones across the world.
Al-Shamie appears to have worked as a tutor teaching English and computer programming.
Greater Manchester Police confirmed that according to their records, Jihad Al-Shamie had no previous Prevent referrals – that means authorities were not aware that he was at risk of becoming involved with terrorism through radicalisation.
Three people have been arrested on suspicion of planning a terror attack in connection with the killings, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) added.
Police have confirmed that two members of the Jewish community died and a suspect was fatally shot following a terror attack outside a synagogue in Manchester.
A suspicious device worn by the attacker during the incident has been assessed and was deemed not to be viable.
Firearms officers warn people to move back as an onlooker warns, “He’s got a bomb on him.” Moments later a shot rings out.
This video contains distressing images
Greater Manchester Police said four other people are in a serious condition following the attack – and confirmed a bomb disposal unit was sent to the synagogue because the attacker was wearing a vest which looked like an explosive device.
Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson said: “We can confirm that two members of our Jewish community have sadly died as a result of this attack.
“Following a rapid response, armed officers from Greater Manchester Police intercepted the offender and he was fatally shot by officers within seven minutes of the original call.”
Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis has said the terror attack was “the day we hoped we would never see, but which deep down, we knew would come”.
Greater Manchester Police were called to the attack, now declared as a terror incident, on Middleton Road in Crumpsall just after 9:30am, following reports of a car driving into people and a man being stabbed.
The force 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.
Paramedics arrived at the scene minutes later and tended to members of the public near the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue.
Four members of the public remain in a critical condition.
Counter terrorism police are working with officers in Greater Manchester to investigate the attack.
Mr Taylor added: “Those who have been killed injured at the forefront of our minds as of their families, friends, and all of those who love them and attack them on Jewish community today on Yom Kippur is devastating.”
The reported stabbings come as members of the Jewish community observe Yom Kippur – the holiest day in the Jewish calendar and is a time when synagogues are usually particularly busy.
A large number of people worshipping at the synagogue at the time of the incident were held inside while the immediate area was made safe.
An image widely circulated on social media appears to show the suspect outside the door of the Synagogue, which was the scene of today’s attack.
The individual’s clothes and items on his person match the description of the body seen on the ground in verified social media footage at the same location, after a man was confronted by armed police.
The force also said a loud noise heard later at the scene was officers gaining entry to his vehicle as a precaution.
The force said: “In response to today’s major incident in Crumpsall, a loud noise was heard at the scene as specialist resources gained entry to the suspect’s vehicle as a precaution.
“There is no risk to the public and ongoing activity in relation to this major incident can be expected as we continue our inquiries.
“People are urged to avoid the area and speak to our officers if they have any concerns. We have officers deployed across key sites in the local area.
“We can confirm three people have died, including the offender, who was shot by GMP Firearms officers.”
They added: “I can see the air ambulance, which has just taken off. The police helicopter is still overhead. The Army guys have just turned up.
“They’ve driven through the cordon with blue lights on. The bomb dispoal unit is about 200-300 yards away from the cordon. There are dozens and dozens of emergency services here. The scale of it is unreal.”
In a statement, the North West Ambulance Service said: “We are deeply saddened by the loss of life as a result of the horrific incident on Middleton Road, Crumpsall, this morning, and our condolences go out to all the victims, their families, and the broader Jewish Community across the North West.
“Our crews assessed and treated patients at the scene and took four patients to local hospitals. We can confirm that ambulances remain on scene to support the incident response.
“We would like to thank our frontline colleagues and emergency responders for their professionalism and dedication in such challenging circumstances.”
Eyewitness and local resident Bethany Dodd said she: “I came outside to see what was going on and you could see the firetrucks and the ambulance – everyone was panicking.
“It’s really, really sad that something like this could happen at the end of my own street.”
The King said he and the Queen were “deeply shocked and saddened to learn of the horrific attack in Manchester, especially on such a significant day for the Jewish community”.
Meanwhile, Sir Keir Starmer said he was “appalled”, adding: “The fact that this has taken place on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, makes it all the more horrific.”
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham said: “GMP have the closest of relationships with the Community Security Trust who are there to protect the Jewish Community.
“It would seem that some of the security used has really played a role here in preventing this being a worse situation.”
Burnham has thanked ‘those who dealt with situation’.
He added: “People should take reassurance. Let’s not use this as a moment for speculation, for rumour and division in communities.
“Every single person in Greater Manchester should be standing with our jewish community as they go through this experience, this trauma today.
“Everyone should show them our support. We deal with this incident in the way Greater Manchester does, in the right way and supporting those who have been affected.”
The Bishop of Manchester, Right Reverend Dr David Walker said he is “deeply shocked and saddened” by the attack and said that “such acts of violence have no place in our communities:”.
He added: “Today, we stand in solidarity with our Jewish neighbours and reaffirm our shared commitment to peace and safety for all.
“I commend the swift response of the emergency services and offer my full support to those working to bring healing and justice in the wake of this tragedy.
“Let us continue to pray for those injured, for the community in grief, and for the courage to stand together against hatred in all its forms.”
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.”
Local MP Christian Wakeford has called for the community to “come together”.
Christian Wakeford, the local MP for Bury South, says there are “no words” to explain how he is feeling after the attack in his own constituency.
He said: “Incidents have happened elsewhere and you don’t think it will ever happen in your constituency.”
The MP went on to say that communities “will come together” and we need to be “extending an arm of friendship to our neighbours.”
