We can bring you some more now from the joint statement which has just been issued by Rabbi Daniel Walker, the executive and trustees of Heaton Park Synagogue.

The statement continues: "Two of our beloved members were murdered in cold blood, and others remain in hospital with serious injuries. The loss we feel is beyond words."

"These were not simply members of our synagogue - they were our friends, our family - and their absence leaves a void that can never be filled.

The statement continues by saying that "even in this valley of deepest sorrow", the synagogue's community has been "upheld by extraordinary courage and kindness from so many".

They go on to thank the first responders and the synagogue's security team for their "swift and selfless actions", which saved countless lives.

"To all of them we owe a debt that can never be repaid."

Image source, Reuters

Rabbi Daniel Walker, the executive and trustees of Heaton Park Synagogue in Manchester have just released a statement on yesterday's attack.

"This desecration of our synagogue, on Yom Kippur of all days, is an episode that has changed us all forever," the statement reads.

Stay with us as we bring you more on this breaking news statement.

Antisemitic hate crimes in Greater Manchester reached a peak in October 2023published at 13:26 BST 3 October

13:26 BST 3 October

By Phil Leake

The number of antisemitic hate crimes in Greater Manchester increased at the beginning of the Israel-Hamas conflict in October 2023 but has since returned to lower levels, according to monthly data collected by the police.

Greater Manchester Police has figures dating back to March 2020 on the number of hate crimes recorded against different religions, external.

They show a spike in hate crimes against Jewish people in late 2023, with 85 reported in October and 68 in November.

This compares with an average of 12 per month between March 2020 and September 2023.

Incidents remained high in early 2024 with 34 hate crimes per month on average in the first half of the year, before falling back to levels seen before the conflict.

The chief executive of Jewish charity the Community Security Trust (CST), which provides security for the Jewish community, has confirmed that one of its personnel was injured in yesterday's attack.

In a statement posted on social media, Mark Gardner says he has given his assurance that the CST "would do everything" in its power to keep Jews safe. "In pursuit of that mission, one of our CST personnel was seriously injured in yesterday's terror attack at Heaton Park Synagogue."

"We pray for his continuing recovery and salute the courage of all those who helped stop the terrorist from getting into the shul," he says.

Image source, PA Media

Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy has this morning declared yesterday’s synagogue attack in Manchester a “major incident”.

A major incident can be declared when an event causes death or serious harm to a significant number of people.

In a statement, Lammy also says the victims will be supported by an Independent Public Advocate (IPA), which will make sure victims and their close friends and family members affected by the incident understand their rights and can access support.

The IPA will also help victims through any investigations that may arise if the government decides to launch an inquiry or inquest into the attack.

This follows Lammy attending an emergency Cobra committee meeting at Downing Street yesterday with Keir Starmer and Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood.

As we've been reporting, as part of his visit to Greater Manchester today, Keir Starmer has spoken with emergency responders involved in the response to yesterday's attack.

Here are some of the images we've received from the police headquarters.

Image source, PA Media

Image source, Reuters

Image source, PA Media

Erica Witherington
Reporting from Greater Manchester Police headquarters

Image source, Reuters

We can now bring you further comments from Keir Starmer, who has addressed police officers and other emergency responders, praising their response to yesterday's attack.

"Thank you is a really important two words," he says to them.

"I say it to each and every one of you and to everyone who was responding. It was a dreadful terrorist attack, to inflict fear. It is important the whole country comes together to stand in support with the Jewish community.

"We must beat antisemitism - that is the responsibility of us all. We will rise to that challenge to ensure our Jewish community is safe and secure. That will be massively helped by what you have done and continue to do.

"The degree of professionalism you showed was of the highest order. I know when I speak to you, you will say you were only doing your job, but it was a very challenging day."

Erica Witherington
Reporting from Greater Manchester Police headquarters

Image source, Reuters

The prime minister, accompanied by his wife, Victoria, the Home Secretary Shabana Mahmoud and Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, has visited the headquarters of Greater Manchester Police to meet and thank officers and emergency responders who were called to yesterday’s terror attack on a synagogue in Crumpsall.

Keir Starmer says: "I wanted to come and see you to say on behalf of the whole country a very humble thank you."

He says he has been to the scene to pay his “respects”, and that he has viewed the police body worn camera footage.

He says he is clear "in his mind as to the professionalism of the response".

He tells those gathered: "Millions of people would love to stand here and look you in the face," and that he is saying thank you on his own behalf and others.

Cachella Smith
Live reporter

Image source, Reuters

We've received further details this morning about yesterday's attack at a synagogue in Greater Manchester in which two people and the suspect were killed.

Here's a look back over the past couple of hours:

The latest on the attack

• Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said one of the victims killed "would appear to have suffered a wound consistent with a gunshot injury" which, the force added, may have been sustained "as a tragic and unforeseen consequence" of the actions taken by police officers
• Full post mortem examinations will take place today, police said, while medical professionals have also advised one of the three victims injured has also suffered a gunshot wound

Tributes paid to the victims

• This morning, we've also seen PM Keir Starmer visit the scene of the attack with his wife
• The suspect's family has released a statement on social media saying they condemn the “heinous act” and feel “deep shock and sorrow”
• The newly named Archbishop of Canterbury has called on the Church to stand with the Jewish community - saying hatred and racism "cannot be allowed to tear us apart"

Looking ahead to the weekend

• Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Police has asked organisers of a pro-Palestinian protest planned in central London this weekend to postpone or cancel the event due to the resources it will require at a time when there is a need for increased security for the Jewish community
• Defend Our Juries, the organisers of the demonstration, has condemned the attack but said the protest is due to go ahead

Stay with us as we continue to bring you developments and reaction.

Rumeana Jahangir
Reporter, BBC News Online

Abdul Rahimi, a neighbour of Adrian Daulby, who was one of the two Jewish men killed in yesterday's attack, says the 53-year-old was “like an angel”.

Daulby and Melvin Cravitz, 66, were named earlier today as the victims killed in the attack at Heaton Park synagogue.

Rahimi says Daulby was known for treating local children as if they were “all his kids”, and they would exchange gifts during festivals.

He says all their neighbours were shocked and it was “very, very sad news for us”.

“He was a very good neighbour, very good guy, always helpful.”

Earlier, Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis spoke to BBC Radio 4's Today programme and said "our hearts are shattered".

"What transpired yesterday was an awful blow to us, something which actually we were fearing might happen because of the build up to this action."

You can watch the full clip below:

Jewish communities have urgent safety questions after synagogue attackpublished at 11:49 BST 3 October

11:49 BST 3 October

Lucy Manning
Special correspondent

There are real conversations among Jewish families about whether it is time to move, held by a people who for centuries have had to flee antisemitism.

But this just doesn’t stem from the attack on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, yesterday, but from nearly two years, since Hamas's 7 October 2023 attacks in Israel, of rising antisemitism in the UK.

British Jews have felt threatened by the chants of “globalise the intifada” on the streets at pro-Palestinian demonstrations week after week; the frequent shouts of "Free Palestine" at observant Jews as they walk to synagogue on Saturdays; the physical attacks against Jewish schoolchildren and those wearing Jewish symbols; the antisemitism that has shown itself in staff across numerous British institutions and most importantly the feeling that no one has listened, cared or taken action.

Eighteen months ago I interviewed Jewish sixth formers who were already saying they had taken off their Jewish Star of David necklaces, or their families had removed their mezuzah, a religious scroll on the outside of doorposts. Even before this attack, some would lower their voice in a public place when discussing being Jewish.

There is, of course, a different response and others have chosen not to hide, not to allow their communities to be terrorised, and the theme on the Jewish New Year last week in synagogues was to have pride in being a British Jew.

And British Jews have felt moved and fortified by those of other faiths and those of none who have reached out. The Muslim friends who have sent messages of solidarity; the woman who stood outside a different Manchester synagogue last night with a sign saying: “I stand with my Jewish friends.”

But the questions linger and are now urgent: why do Jewish institutions have ordinary members protecting the gates of their synagogues and schools?

They were the people who were the first line of defence yesterday. The government helps to fund the Community Security Trust but why are Jewish men and women donning stab vests and walkie talkies outside instead of joining in the prayers inside synagogues?

And why hasn’t more been done to stop the words of violence and hate that Jewish people have felt subjected to on the streets of the UK?

As the Chief Rabbi said, this is the day British Jews knew would come.

Lucy Manning
Special correspondent

Jewish families across the UK are having difficult conversations today.

Children have woken up afraid, some in tears, and are asking whether it’s safe to be a Jew in this country. Some parents are telling them they have to keep being proud of their religion and heritage and now is not the time to hide away.

But there is real fear.

These are the thoughts of some British Jews today:

“I’m scared to send my child to her Jewish school.”

“I can’t believe it, but I can believe it.”

“The government and police must do more to protect our communities... what happened is a national disgrace.”

“To come out of a day of reflection, forgiveness and community into this reality is devastating and frightening. The sense of vulnerability is very real.”

Image source, PA Media

The newly named Archbishop of Canterbury, Dame Sarah Mullally, has recently referenced the Manchester attack in her first address.

"We're witnessing hatred that rises up through fractures across our communities," Mullally, the first woman Archbishop of Canterbury in the Church of England's almost 500-year history, says.

Mullally says it's the Church's responsibility to stand with the Jewish community against antisemitism.

"Hatred and racism of any kind cannot be allowed to tear us apart," she adds.

• We're following Mullally's appointment on our separate live page

A statement has been released by the family of Jihad Al-Shamie, the man police believe is responsible for yesterday's attack.

His father Faraj Al-Shamie posts on Facebook:

"The news from Manchester regarding the terrorist attack targeting a Jewish synagogue has been a profound shock to us. The Al-Shamie family in the UK and abroad strongly condemns this heinous act, which targeted peaceful, innocent civilians.

"We fully distance ourselves from this attack and express our deep shock and sorrow over what has happened. Our hearts and thoughts are with the victims and their families, and we pray for their strength and comfort.

"We kindly request that all media outlets respect the family’s privacy during this very difficult time and refrain from using this tragic event in any context that does not reflect the truth.

"May God have mercy on the innocent victims, and we pray for the swift recovery of the injured."

As we've just reported, Greater Manchester Police Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson has just issued an update on yesterday's attack - here's what he says:

• One of the two people killed appeared to have "suffered a wound consistent with a gunshot injury" - Watson doesn't say whether this was the cause of death
• Another of the three victims currently in hospital also "suffered a gunshot wound", but this is "not life-threatening"
• Both victims of the gunshot wounds were believed to have been "close together behind the synagogue door"
• The suspect, Jihad Al-Shamie, "was not in possession of a firearm" and only GMP's firearms officers fired shots as they tried to prevent the attacker from entering the synagogue
• As a result, the two victims' gunshot injuries "may sadly have been sustained as a tragic and unforeseen consequence of the urgently required action taken by my officers", Watson writes

In an update, Greater Manchester Police says that two victims of yesterday's attack have been found to have gunshot wounds.

The statement in full from the chief constable:

"The Home Office Pathologist has advised that he has provisionally determined, that one of the deceased victims would appear to have suffered a wound consistent with a gunshot injury," a statement reads.

"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 Officers as they worked to prevent the offender from entering the synagogue and causing further harm to our Jewish community. 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.

"We have also been advised by medical professionals that one of the three victims currently receiving treatment in hospital, has also suffered a gunshot wound, which is mercifully not life threatening. It is believed that both victims were close together behind the synagogue door, as worshippers acted bravely to prevent the attacker from gaining entry."

We've just had some images come through of Keir Starmer, which show the prime minister visiting the area near the scene of the Manchester synagogue attack.

In the photos below, he is shown shaking hands with police officers alongside his wife, Victoria.

Image source, PA Media

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

As the investigation into yesterday's attack continues, we've been hearing from members of the Jewish community who live nearby to the synagogue in Crumpsall.

Zippi tells BBC 5 Live that she and her children regularly walk down the road nearby to visit family on Friday nights.

She says with her daughter nearly a teenager and beginning to walk alone on the streets, she'll now "rethink whether there's a future for us as a family... because we don't feel welcome".

"My five year old asked me yesterday, when we had four helicopters above our heads all day, he said 'is this what happens every Yom Kippur?' I said no, this isn't normal," she says.

"You have to try and explain to them that this isn't the norm and this isn't the way we should be living."

We're now seeing pictures of flowers and notes that have been placed near the scene of yesterday's attack.

Image source, PA Media

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, PA Media