At least two people have been killed outside the place of worship during a Jewish religious holiday
The attack on a synagogue in Crumpsall, Greater Manchester is being treated as terrorism, the UK police have confirmed.
A man rammed a car into worshippers and subsequently went on a stabbing spree outside a synagogue on Thursday morning, killing at least two people. Three other victims are said to be in serious condition.
“Based on what we know, counterterrorism policing has declared this is a terrorist incident,” Laurence Taylor, the national head of counter-terrorism policing has said, according to Sky News. Two arrests have been made and the police believe they have established the attacker’s identity, he added.
A member of the public called the police at 9.31am local time, saying he had witnessed a car being driven towards members of the public, and that one man had been stabbed, the police said in an earlier statement.
Footage shared on social media appears to show officers aiming their weapons at a person lying on the ground in front of the synagogue. They can be heard telling bystanders to “get back” and “move on.” The video also appears to show an onlooker claiming the suspect “has got a bomb on him.”
The individual on the ground is seen beginning to rise when a gunshot rings out, causing them to collapse. Police have confirmed the suspect was shot dead.
An image has been circulated on social media of a man thought to be the suspect, seemingly wearing a bulky vest with unidentifiable objects hanging from it.
A bomb disposal unit arrived at the scene, however, no explosives have yet been confirmed on site.
British Prime Minister Kier Starmer has announced that he has cut short his attendance at a summit in Denmark and that more police are being deployed at synagogues across the UK country.
The UK has seen large demonstrations against Israel’s offensive in Gaza in recent months. The British government banned the Palestine Action group under anti-terror legislation in July, sparking mass rallies across the country and hundreds of arrests.
On Thursday, Israeli forces intercepted around 40 boats carrying aid and foreign activists to Gaza, triggering international condemnation and protests.
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