Two people have died and attacker also shot in synagogue attack, police confirm
Two people have died after a suspected terror attack outside a synagogue in Crumpsall by a man who was shot dead by police, Greater Manchester Police said.
The man believed to be the attacker was shot by Greater Manchester Police firearms officers and is also believed to be dead.
However, police said it cannot currently be confirmed due to safety issues related to “suspicious items on his person”. The bomb disposal unit has been called and is at the scene.
Three other people remain in a serious condition, police said in a statement.
Key events
A bomb disposal unit was sent to the scene after 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.
Labour MP Graham Stringer has said there is a Jewish school with “heavy security” near the synagogue that has been attacked in Manchester.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s World at One, the Blackley and Middleton South MP said he thinks it is “depressing” and “appalling” that it is felt those children are under such a threat that security has to be paid for at their school.
He added that despite an increase in attacks on Jewish people, that “shouldn’t distort the fact that actually the vast majority of people in the Jewish community, the Muslim community, other communities, there is a real level of tolerance and a determination to get along with each other”.
He insisted there is a “determination between the communities to not let those extremist, evil people wind things up”.
Stringer also said he is “particularly upset” by an attack on the synagogue, which is in his constituency, because he knows some of the congregation “by first name”.
Police move bystanders outside the synagogue in Crumpsall, north Manchester, as the suspect lies on ground.
Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey has said he is “horrified and appalled” by the synagogue attack today.
In a post on X, he said:
Horrified and appalled by the attack outside Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.
My thoughts are with the victims, our brave emergency services and the entire Jewish community.

Josh Halliday
Police appear to be searching a residential property around 500 metres from the synagogue that was attacked this morning.
Officers have cordoned off White House Avenue where a car is police vehicle is parked outside two semi-detached houses, with a police van at the rear end of the cul-de-sac. Two officers are patrolling the small street.
Police have not said whether this activity is linked to the attack but many roads nearby have been blocked off. More police have also now arrived at the scene on blue lights.
Police said on Thursday it had deployed additional officers around synagogues and Jewish community sites in London.
London’s Metropolitan Police said there was no indication of an increased threat to the capital but had taken precautionary measures.
“While there is nothing to suggest an increased threat to London, we have deployed additional resources to the areas around synagogues, other Jewish community venues and in those boroughs with significant Jewish populations,” it said in a post on X.
A loud controlled explosion has just been heard at the police cordon in Crumpsall, BBC News has reported.
The bomb disposal unit are at the scene, with armed forces pictured operating a bomb disposal robot earlier today.

Josh Halliday
A woman who lives opposite the synagogue said she heard four loud noises at around 9.30am before the area was teeming with armed police, ambulances and fire engines.
Fran Barrie, 75, said:
At about half 9 I heard this big bang and that’s when it al happened. There was about four loud noises. It might have been the police shooting at the guy but about 15 minutes later there was armed police, fire engines, everything.
Barrie and her friend Joyce Goldstone, 78, said they were told by police they had to go to the back of their building because of their large glass windows at the front.
Shortly after, police returned and told them to evacuate but did not say why.
As they were led out of the cordon, they saw the army bomb disposal unit and a bomb disposal robot. Police later moved the cordon further back down the road.
“I’m shaken up,” said Goldstone. “We’ve never had any animosity here. Whenever there was riots all over the police there was nothing like that here. I was born Catholic and my husband is Jewish – we all have the same 10 commandments so we can’t we all get along”.
Barrie added:
You don’t do this in a civilised society and it’s not helping any cause.
First image of Manchester synagogue attacker appears to show white objects strapped to his waist
This is the first image to emerge of the man believed to be behind the fatal synagogue attack in Crumpsall, north Manchester, earlier today.
The man appears to have a bald head, beard, is wearing dark clothes and has white objects strapped around his waist – police and armed forces are currently working to establish if the device is “viable”.
The photograph was taken on the western side of the Heaton Park synagogue, according to BBC Verify. The image was first circulated on social media this morning.
In a statement, Mike Peake, chair of the Greater Manchester Police Federation, praised the bravery of officers.
He said:
First and foremost our thoughts are with the families of those who lost loved ones in the horrific events this morning and we wish well to those still injured.
The bravery of our colleagues involved in this incident – running towards extreme danger and dealing with an extreme threat – is to be commended.
We can rightly be proud of our emergency services today. They are the best of the best in the most tragic of circumstances.
Greater Manchester Police Federation are offering all colleagues involved our full support.

Chris Osuh
The British Muslim Trust, the government’s new Islamophobia monitoring partner, has condemned the Manchester synagogue attack as “utterly abhorrent” and said it stands with the Jewish community.
British Muslim Trust CEO Akeela Ahmed said:
The attack in Manchester this morning is shocking and utterly abhorrent, and to commit these acts on Yom Kippur is sickening. We are deeply saddened by the loss of life, and our thoughts and best wishes go to all those affected.
There is never, and can never be any place for this sort of despicable, cowardly violence in our society. The British Muslim Trust stands with all victims of hate, and in particular today with the Jewish community, the people of Manchester and the Community Security Trust.
We utterly condemn this disgraceful attack and offer our support to those left to pick up the pieces. Finally, in worrying times like these we ask Muslims and all communities to look out for each other and remain vigilant. We know there are some who will seek to exploit this violence to deepen the division they seek – we must not let them.
The leader of Manchester City Council has said Manchester “stands with our Jewish community at this darkest of moments”.
In a statement, councillor Bev Craig said:
We are all horrified by this shocking and reprehensible attack on members of Manchester’s Jewish community, on their holiest day.
Our thoughts are with those who have been killed and seriously injured, their loved ones and with everyone who has been affected by this awful incident.
We have been supporting our local community throughout the morning and offer our full support and love.
We will be working with Greater Manchester Police, Greater Manchester Combined Authority and our local communities in the hours ahead to offer support and reassurance.
Manchester stands with our Jewish community at this darkest of moments and will come together as a city.

Caroline Davies
Yom Kippur, or the ‘Day of Atonement’, is the most sacred and solemn day in the Jewish calendar.
Many Jews attend the synagogue where they pray throughout the day. The day’s main observances consist of full fasting, asceticism and extended prayer services.
It is one of the two High Holy Days, or Days of Awe, alongside Rosh Hashanah, which falls nine days previously.
It is a day about people repenting, putting things right with God through prayer and sacrifice. Yom Kippur is a day to reflect on the past year and ask God’s forgiveness for any sins.
Prime minister Keir Starmer said of today’s attack: “The fact that this has taken place on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, makes it all the more horrific.”
NHS Greater Manchester is advising people to only attend accident and emergency (A&E) departments if it is “urgent or life-threatening”.
A spokesperson for NHS Greater Manchester said:
We are aware of the incident currently unfolding in Crumpsall and are actively supporting the multi-agency response led by Greater Manchester Police and other emergency services.
Our priority is to ensure the safety and care of patients and staff across the region, and we are working closely with partners to manage any impact on local hospitals and emergency departments.
We urge the public to only attend accident and emergency (A&E) departments if your condition is urgent or life-threatening. This will help us prioritise care for those most in need and ensure emergency teams can respond effectively to this incident.
If you are unsure about which service to use, please contact NHS 111 online or by phone for guidance.
Here are some more pictures from the scene this morning:
Afzal Khan, Labour MP for Manchester Rusholme, said on X:
Horrifying news out of Crumpsall this morning following a major incident. I want to thank the police for swift action.
Praying for the whole community on this holy day.
Violence is never the answer and Manchester must stand together against these actions.
A number of hospitals in Greater Manchester were placed in “lockdown” following the incident at the synagogue in Crumpsall, it has been reported.
An internal note shared by the Northern Care Alliance (NCA) NHS Foundation Trust and seen by the Manchester Evening News (MEN) said all of its sites “have been asked to immediately lock down” following the declaration of a major incident.
“We have been informed that emergency services are at the scene of an incident within Manchester. We will share further details as these become available,” the note added.
NCA hospitals include Salford Royal, Fairfield General, Rochdale Infirmary and the Royal Oldham.
However, the MEN reported at 12.40pm that the lockdown has since been lifted.