Two people have died and three others remain in a serious condition following a terror attack outside a synagogue in Crumpsall, Manchester, UK on Wednesday. Police said a man believed to be the attacker was shot by armed officers after one person was stabbed and a car was driven at members of the public outside the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue. Greater Manchester Police (GMP) declared “Plato” – the codeword for a marauding terror attack – at 9.37 am local time. A bomb disposal unit was later deployed to the scene. In a statement, GMP confirmed firearms officers opened fire, minutes after reports that a security guard had been attacked with a knife. “One man has been shot, believed to be the offender,” the statement said. The force later added that the suspect was also dead. Greater Manchester Police Chief Constable Stephen Watson in a statement said that offender was shot and killed by police within seven minutes of a call being made to emergency services. He further added that the attacker was wearing a vest "which had the appearance of an explosive device" and was prevented by worshippers and security staff from entering the synagogue. According to The Guardian, video shared online appeared to show police pointing guns at someone lying outside the synagogue. Several ambulances, fire engines, and unmarked police vehicles were seen at the scene, with a helicopter overhead. At a conference, Laurence Taylor, head of UK counter-terrorism policing, declared it a terrorist incident and confirmed two related arrests. Taylor also said that Police know the attacker's identity "but for safety reasons at the scene we’re unable to confirm at this stage". The incident occurred during Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish calendar. The Community Security Trust (CST), which monitors antisemitism in the UK, described the incident as “an appalling attack on the holiest day of the Jewish year” and said it was working closely with police and the Jewish community. PM Keir Starmer said he was “appalled” by the attack and announced he would return early from a European leaders’ meeting in Denmark to chair an emergency Cobra meeting. He said “additional police assets” would be deployed to synagogues across the UK to ensure the safety of the Jewish community. Greater Manchester’s mayor, Andy Burnham, later said the “immediate danger appears to be over.” The North West counter-terrorism unit and MI5 are understood to be involved in the investigation. India condemned the attack calling it a “grim reminder of the challenge we face from the evil forces of terrorism” and called upon the global community to “combat and defeat” terrorism “through united and concerted action”.
