Two people have been killed and another three seriously injured in an attack outside a synagogue in northern England on the holiest day of the year for Jewish people.
Police said firearms officers shot the suspected attacker within seven minutes of a man calling emergency services to report someone had driven a car at a group of people and stabbed another man.
Police declared a "major incident" outside the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in Manchester at 9.31am today (6.31pm AEST).
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"Members of the public are asked to avoid the area while the police continue to deal with the incident," police wrote on X.
Police shot and killed the suspect, said Greater Manchester Police. It took police some time to confirm he was dead because of concerns he had an explosive on him.
Social media vision from outside the synagogue, broadcast by the BBC, showed a police officer shouting "he has a bomb, go away" before the suspect was shot.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said extra police would be deployed to synagogues across the country as authorities "do everything to keep our Jewish community safe".
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham said the situation was "probably" linked to the day being Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the year in Judaism.
A police spokesperson said the service was in contact with all the synagogues across the region.
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"We know today's horrifying attack, on the Jewish community's holiest day, will have caused significant shock and fear throughout all of our communities," they said.
"We are grateful to the member of the public whose quick response to what they witnessed allowed our swift action, and as a result the offender was prevented from entering the synagogue."
Police asked people to share video or photos of the attack with them instead of on social media.
A large number of worshippers who had been held inside following the incident were evacuated after the area was made safe, police said.
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Police "declared PLATO," the national code-word used by police and emergency services when responding to a "marauding terror attack". That does not mean it has been declared a terrorist incident.
Starmer is flying back from a summit of European leaders in Copenhagen to chair a meeting of the government's emergency committee, COBRA.
"I'm appalled by the attack at a synagogue in Crumpsall," he said, on X.
"The fact that this has taken place on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, makes it all the more horrific.
"My thoughts are with the loved ones of all those affected, and my thanks go to the emergency services and all the first responders."
King Charles said he and Queen Camilla were "deeply shocked and saddened to learn of the horrific attack" and shared their "thoughts and prayers are with all those affected".
The North West Ambulance Service also declared a major incident at the scene on Middleton Road in Crumpsall.
"We are currently assessing the situation and working with other members of the emergency services," the trust said, in a statement.
"Our priority is to ensure people receive the medical help they need as quickly as possible."
Burnham told BBC Radio Manchester that the "immediate danger appears to be over" and praised police and security at the synagogue for such a rapid response.
He said he believed the suspect was dead and issued a message for UK Jews.
"Obviously, what we would all want to recognise is how people in our Jewish community will be feeling right now," he said.
"Today is Yom Kippur, as I understand, and obviously, I think that explains why people were around, why there was a number of people gathered outside the synagogue, and, you know, while lots of people were attending a service.
"So we understand this is a situation that probably is linked to the fact that it's Yom Kippur, you know, a day of celebration for the Jewish community."
The Community Security Trust, which monitors antisemitism in the UK, said it was working with police and the local Jewish community.
"This appears to be an appalling attack on the holiest day of the Jewish year," it said, in a post on X.
"We thank the GMP officers and synagogue security who responded immediately to deal with the incident."
– Reported with Associated Press
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