Three people, including the suspected attacker, were killed on Thursday after a violent incident at a synagogue in Manchester, United Kingdom police said.
The attack occurred as worshippers gathered to mark Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) confirmed that officers responded to reports of a car being driven towards members of the public and a man being stabbed at 09:31 BST near the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in Crumpsall, an area with a large Jewish community around four miles (6 km) north of the city centre.
The man who was stabbed is believed to have been a security guard.
By 09:37, GMP had declared a major incident. Police said they opened fire at 09:38 on one man, believed to be the offender, who later died after being shot by officers.
A large number of people worshipping inside the synagogue were kept in place while the immediate area was secured. They were later evacuated, according to police. Authorities stressed there was no ongoing risk to the wider public.
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Eyewitness Gareth Tonge, 39, from Bolton, who was driving a delivery van nearby, told he saw a man “bleeding out on the floor” and another “laying on the floor” in front of a car. He described seeing a man with a knife “stabbing the window” of a nearby building in an attempt to get inside.
“Within seconds, the police arrived, they gave him a couple of warnings, he didn’t listen so they opened fire,” Tonge said. “The man went down on the floor, then started getting back up and they shot him again. It was nerve-racking to witness.”
The North West Ambulance Service confirmed it had also declared a major incident and deployed additional staff to the scene.
Police later clarified that in addition to the suspect, two people had died. Three other members of the public remain in serious condition after suffering injuries from both the vehicle and stab attack.
Earlier, GMP said it could not immediately confirm the suspect’s death “due to safety issues surround[ing] suspicious items on his person.” A bomb disposal unit was deployed to the area.
Images and video showed the moment police opened fire. In one clip, two armed officers could be seen pointing their weapons at a man lying on the ground. Moments later, as the man attempted to stand, sharp cracks rang out and he fell to the ground.
The investigation remains ongoing as officers continue to examine the scene and speak to witnesses.
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