Keir Starmer addresses nation after Manchester synagogue terror attack

Keir Starmer has said Britain must defeat rising hatred of Jewish people after a terror attack on a synagogue in Manchester.

In a statement from Downing Street, the Prime Minister offered his condolences to the victims' families and those impacted in the "horrific incident".

Mr Starmer said the Jewish community in Britain will see a "more visible police presence" as he promised to do "everything in my power to guarantee you the security that you deserve".

The Prime Minister said: "To every Jewish person in this country, I also want to say this. I know how much fear you will be holding inside of you. I really do."

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Police issue update on device worn by suspect

Police have confirmed the device the suspect was wearing was not viable.

GMP statement following terror attack

A GMP spokesperson said in a statement: "First and foremost, my thoughts, and those of my officers and staff, are with the families of the loved ones who have been affected by today’s horrific incident, on what is the Jewish community’s holiest day: Yom Kippur.

"This has been officially declared as a terrorist incident, and the investigation is now being led by Counter Terrorist Police. As has been confirmed by CT policing, we believe that the identity of the offender has been established but until we are certain of this fact, it is premature to set out this detail. In addition, I can confirm that two other individuals have been arrested in connection with this incident and enquiries are ongoing.

"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 initial call.

"Four further people remain in hospital, having suffered a variety of serious injuries and their treatment is ongoing and our thoughts remain with them at this time."

Home Secretary will join Cobra meeting

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood will join the Cobra meeting led by Sir Keir Starmer in response to the attack in Crumpsall remotely from Greater Manchester, it is understood.

Ms Mahmood travelled to Greater Manchester Police headquarters on Thursday afternoon for an operational update and to show her support to officers.

She has also spoken with the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, as well as with Jewish community leaders, including Marc Levy of the Jewish Leadership Council and Mark Gardner, CST chief executive, to offer any support needed.

Suspect's identity 'established,' say police

Greater Manchester Police Chief Constable Stephen Watson says detectives believe they have “established the identity of the offender” but it is too soon to say any more.

Police tell people not to share 'disturbing or insensitive' content online

People have been asked not to share sensitive videos or content online.

Greater Manchester Police Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson said: “People will want answers and quickly. But please understand, this will take time.

“I would ask that people refrain from sharing disturbing and insensitive content as well as information online. Please, report it to police.”

Brave worshipers prevented suspect gaining access to synagogue

Greater Manchester Police Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson has given a statement following today’s synagogue attack in Manchester.

He said: “Thanks to the immediate bravery of the security staff and the worshipers inside, as well as the fast response of the police, the attacker was prevented from gaining access.”

He added: “The offender was fatally shot within seven minutes of the call.”

New image shows suspect dead on the ground

The body of a man, known to be the attacker, lies dead on the ground at the scene after being shot by police.

The image shows the man, a knife and what appears to be a bag on the floor alongside him.

COBRA meeting expected shortly

Two arrests made

Police have confirmed two people have been arrested following the attack.

The force have confirmed the incident this morning is being treated as terror-related.

Speaking outside New Scotland Yard, Head of Counter Terrorism Policing, Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor said: "We have also made two further arrests.

"Based on what we know, counter terrorism policing has declared this as a terrorist incident.”

Three members of the public remain in 'serious' condition

Police have confirmed three other members of the public who were attacked earlier today remain in a 'serious' condition in hospital.

Counter-terrorism Policing Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor provided the update a moment ago.

He said: “This morning, an appalling attack took place in Crumpsall in Manchester. Two people have died. The attacker has been shot dead by the police.

“Three other members of the public are in a serious condition."

Terrorism police 'deploying all resources possible'

Counter terrorism police are deploying all resources possible following the horror attack in Manchester this morning.

They say they will make sure all lines of inquiry are investigated to build a full picture in the coming days and weeks.

Police believe they know identity of attacker

Police say they believe they know the attacker's identity.

Speaking outside New Scotland Yard, Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, has said: "But for safety reasons at the scene we’re unable to confirm at this stage".

Counter terrorism have declared this a terrorist incident.

Terrorist act declared

The counter terrorism chief has given a statement following the attack at a synagogue in Manchester this morning that saw two people killed and three injured - with armed police shooting dead the suspect.

Speaking outside New Scotland Yard, Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, has said: "The attacker has been shot dead by police, we believe we know his identity.

"We have made two further arrests. Counter terrorism have declared this a terrorist attack."

Prince and Princess of Wales 'thinking of the entire community'

The Prince and Princess of Wales have expressed their condolences.

"Our thoughts are with the victims and the families of the terrible attack at Heaton Park Synagogue. The fact that this tragedy occurred on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, makes it all the more shocking," the royal's statement says.

"We are thinking of the entire community as well as the emergency responders who attended this terrible incident."

Police update due in the next few minutes

The Head of Counter Terrorism Policing, Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, is planning to make a statement to the media outside New Scotland Yard at 3pm today.

Greater Manchester Police Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson is also set to speak at 3:15pm.

Prince and Princess of Wales send thoughts to victims of 'terrible' and 'shocking' attack

Prince William and Kate Middleton have released a statement following the attack in Crumpsall this morning. "Our thoughts are with the victims and the families of the terrible attack at Heaton Park Synagogue," the statement reads.

Our thoughts are with the victims and the families of the terrible attack at Heaton Park Synagogue.

The fact that this tragedy occurred on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, makes it all the more shocking.

We are thinking of the entire community as well as…

— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) October 2, 2025

Keir Starmer lands in UK ahead of Cobra meeting

The Prime Minister has arrived back in the UK to chair an emergency Cobra meeting following the attack in Greater Manchester.

Sir Keir Starmer, who landed back in the UK at around 2.30pm, will return to Downing Street before chairing the meeting. He had been attending a European summit in Denmark when the incident occurred.

Car crashed into synagogue gates as man 'tried to stab anyone near him'

A neighbour who lives by the synagogue at the scene of a horror attack has told how a car crashed into the gates and "started stabbing anyone near him".

Chava Lewin, who described herself as a religious Jew, said: "I spoke to someone who said she was driving and saw a car driving erratically and it crashed into the gates (of the synagogue). She thought maybe he had a heart attack.

"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. Someone barricaded the door. Everyone is in utter shock."

Police in New York on high alert after Machester attack

The New York Police department say they're "tracking" the incident in Manchester and have placed enhanced coverage and high visibility patrols around synagogues today for Yom Kippur.

We are tracking the incident in Manchester, England. At this time, there is no known nexus to NYC. The NYPD already has in place enhanced coverage and high visibility patrols around synagogues today for Yom Kippur.

As always, if you see something, say something 1-888-NYC-SAFE

— NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) October 2, 2025

Loud noise at scene was cops forcing entry into suspect's vehicle

Greater Manchester Police said a loud noise heard at the scene of the attack was officers gaining entry to the suspect's 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.”

Chilling police codeword which led to cops shooting suspect

Moments after the chilling word “Plato” rang out through police communications at 9.31am Armed Response Vehicles were screaming towards Heaton Park Synagogue, Manchester.

A quick-thinking caller to 999 had told police a man had been stabbed and people had been run over. Armed police were deployed, minutes later shooting a suspect - one of his apparent victims lying nearby in a pool of blood. The codeword “Plato” alerted armed police that a ‘marauding terror attack’ was underway and needed to be closed down urgently as cars called ‘gunships’ screamed towards the scene of horror.

At 9.38 the first shots rang out as the terror attacker was wounded and then when he slowly rose again, fearing he was about to let off a suicide bomb, he was killed. Almost simultaneously ambulances arrived at the scene to save the lives of the injured.

Locals were heard at the scene saying “he’s got a bomb” before one of the armed police officers fired another round into him after ordering watching public to move away

Full story: Chilling police codeword which led to cops shooting suspect

Suspect confirmed dead after being shot by armed officers

Greater Manchester Police have confirmed that the suspect in the Manchester synagogue attack is dead after being shot by armed officers.

"There is no risk to the public and ongoing activity in relation to this major incident can be expected as we continue our enquiries," police say. "We can confirm three people have died, including the offender, who was shot by GMP Firearms officers."

British Muslim Trust condemns 'sickening' attack

The British Muslim Trust described the attack as "despicable" and "cowardly", and said it stands with the Jewish community. The trust, a Government-funded organisation selected this year to monitor incidents of anti-Muslim hate, warned no-one should be allowed to "exploit this violence to deepen the division they seek".

British Muslim Trust chief executive 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.

"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."

Person killed is believed to be synagogue security guard

It is believed one of those killed was a security guard at the synagogue. Police were today standing guard providing extra security at other local synagogues.

Lives may have been saved as those inside the synagogue managed to bolt the doors from inside, one local said. He said: “I’m observing holiest day so I’m not using any devices. But word of mouth says two people have died. The guy drove into the gates and started stabbing. The managed to shut the doors. The police came and shot the guy.”

Another Jewish local, Isaac moskovits, 22, said: “It makes you feel a bit scared, things happening around the world getting closer to home. It seems a targeted attack on the Jewish community. I think it’s antisemitism. Social media is spreading hate and violence.

“I work around Manchester and am visibly Jewish. I’ve had people shout Free Palestine at me, but I’ve never felt threatened.”

Two men seen being 'led away in handcuffs'

A man who lives on White House Avenue - close to the synagogue - said he saw two men in handcuffs being led away by police. He said: “They’ve arrested two people on our road. They’ve closed the road and there’s a police helicopter just over us. There were six or seven police cars with armed police.”

A photo has emerged showing one of the arrests.

Several people were in synagogue when attacker struck

There were a large number of people inside Heaton Park synagogue when the attacker struck.

One witness told how he saw a a man “bleeding on the floor,” then another person lying in front of a car while members of the public shouted in the background. He then saw a man carrying a knife and “stabbing the window of a nearby building “trying to get in”.

A rabbi has been hailed a hero for barricading the doors of the synagogue. He was pictured speaking to police in a blood-stained robe.

Police seen guarding other UK synagogues

Police officers are on patrol outside the Reading Hebrew Congregation in Reading, following the fatal attack outside Heaton Park synagogue in Manchester. It comes after Keir Starmer said "additional police assets" will be deployed at synagogues across the country.

Man seen 'bleeding on floor' after suspect 'stabbed window'

A man was seen “stabbing the window” of a nearby building before police “opened fire” on him after a horrific attack on a synagogue, according to an eyewitness. One eyewitness, Gareth, has told the BBC how he was driving a delivery van and saw part of the attack unfold. He said he was waiting in traffic thinking that there had been a crash before he saw a man “bleeding on the floor”.

Then he saw another person on the floor in front of a car and he heard people shouting. At this point he saw a man carrying a knife and “stabbing the window of a nearby building “trying to get in”.

Gareth continued: “Within seconds, the police arrived, they gave him a couple of warnings, he didn’t listen so they opened fire." The man is then said to have fallen to the floor, but Gareth added that he “started getting back up and they (the police) shot him again.”

Hero rabbi hailed for barricading doors during attack

A rabbi whose robes were seen stained with blood has been hailed as a hero for barricading the doors of the synagogue.

Rabbi Daniel Walker protected worshippers by blocking the entrance to the religious building. Someone who cited their friend, who witnessed the incident, said the "hero" rabbi remained "incredibly calm" throughout.

They told the Daily Mail: "My friend saw him crash the car near the synagogue. At first she thought he'd had a heart attack. Then he got out and started stabbing everyone he could get to. Rabbi Walker was incredibly calm, he shut the doors to the synagogue to stop him getting inside. He barricaded everyone inside. He is a hero, this could have been even worse."