A member of the congregation targeted in this morning's attack has spoken of how the assault has devastated Manchester's Jewish community on their most sacred day.

Raphi Bloom, who belongs to the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue, revealed he was travelling to the building when news of the attack reached him.

"It has shocked the Manchester Jewish community, and indeed the UK Jewish community, to the core," he said in an interview with GB News.

"Tragic, tragic news on the holiest day of the Jewish year."

Raphi Bloom belongs to the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue

His heartbreaking comments come after a attacker drove a vehicle towards worshippers this morning before carrying out a knife attack outside the synagogue on Middleton Road in Crumpsall.

Two have died with three more members of the public in hospital in a serious condition, according to Greater Manchester Police.

Mr Bloom explained to GB News: "It’s a very warm, close-knit community. This is something the community has been worried about and fearful of for two years now.

"As you know, sadly, the Jewish community is the only one in the UK that requires 24-hour security at our schools, synagogues and communal organisations, because of the fear of an incident like this.

"Over the last two years, since the conflict in the Middle East has been imported onto our streets, Jews have suffered a tsunami of Jew-hatred.

"This has come from people wishing to target our community over that conflict. This attack is the culmination of what we’ve really feared.

"We’ve seen a steady increase in vandalism, online abuse, and targeted Jew-hatred in the NHS with visibly Jewish patients being singled out by pro-Palestinian medics.

"And sadly, this is the culmination of it: what we’ve all been fearing."

He added: "We are a vibrant Jewish community in Manchester, one that has existed here for 150 years.

"We’ve contributed to making Manchester the great city that it is. We’re proud Mancunian Jews, proud British Jews.

"And unfortunately, this is the culmination of two years of hate directed at the UK Jewish community, resulting in this horrific terrorist incident."

The exact motive of the attack has not been shared by police.

The assault took place during Yom Kippur, Judaism's most solemn observance, when synagogues experience their highest attendance as worshippers engage in a 25-hour fast.

Known as the Day of Atonement, this sacred occasion sees Jewish communities gathering to seek divine forgiveness and reflect on the previous year.

The holy day occurs on the tenth day of Tishri in the Jewish calendar, arriving ten days after Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year.

Armed police officers at the scene near the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue in Crumpsall, Manchester

Greater Manchester Police acknowledged the attack would generate "significant shock and fear throughout all of our communities".

A spokesman praised the witness whose rapid alert enabled officers to prevent the attacker from entering the synagogue.

The force confirmed ongoing communication with all Greater Manchester synagogues to offer reassurance and support.

Police requested that anyone with footage of the incident share it directly with investigators rather than posting on social media platforms.