Police name Manchester attacker who killed two people at synagogue

The man who carried out an attack killing two people at a synagogue where worshippers marking Yom Kippur in Manchester on Thursday has been named. Authorities said he was believed to be Jihad Al-Shamie, a 35-year-old British citizen of Syrian descent.

Greater Manchester Police have said three people have been arrested and have declared it a "terror related" incident. 

Two men were killed on Thursday when a man drove a car into pedestrians and stabbed a security guard at Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in the Crumpsall district of the city in northern England.

One of the victims killed was shot by police during their attempts to bring the attacker, who was not carrying a gun, under control, officers said on Friday in a statement.

"It is currently believed that the suspect, Jihad Al Shamie, was not in possession of a firearm and the only shots fired were from GMP's Authorised Firearms Officer," the Greater Manchester Police statement said.

"It follows therefore that, subject to further forensic examination, this injury may sadly have been sustained as a tragic and unforeseen consequence of the urgently required action taken by my officers to bring this vicious attack to an end."

Police added that one of those injured and currently receiving treatment in hospital also suffered a gunshot wound.

Both people believed to have been shot were behind the synagogue doors.

The suspect, who was wearing what appeared to be a vest with an explosive device, was shot dead at the scene by armed officers.

Manchester attack declared terrorist incident

A video shared on social media and verified by Reuters showed police officers shooting a man inside the synagogue’s perimetre, while another man lay on the floor in a pool of blood, appearing to wear a traditional Jewish head covering.

"He has a bomb, go away!" an armed police officer shouted to onlookers, just seconds before a gunshot rang out. 

Neighbour Angela Crawshaw told that she had seen three policemen aiming guns at a man in the car park of the synagogue, telling him: "Stay down, don't move or we'll shoot." 

A bomb disposal unit was later called to the scene, but police confirmed the device that the suspect was wearing was not viable.

Police said they were working to understand the motivation behind the attack, and said they could find no records that the suspect had been referred previously to the country's counter-radicalisation scheme, Prevent.

Britain's most senior counter-terrorism officer, Laurence Taylor, said it had been declared a terrorist incident.

Two men in their 30s and a woman in her 60s have been arrested on suspicion of preparing acts of terrorism.

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ManchesterAttack SynagogueAttack KeirStarmer Israel MiddleEastConflict Yom Kippur