Watson thanks security staff and worshippers for their bravery in helping to prevent the attacker gaining access to the synagogue.

"There were a large number of worshippers attending the synagogue at the time of this attack but thanks to the immediate bravery of security staff and the worshippers inside as well as the fast response of the police, the attacker was prevented from gaining access," Watson says.

Four further people remain in hospital, having suffered a variety of serious injuries, Watson says.

Image source, PA Media

Greater Manchester Police Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson says two members of Manchester's Jewish community have sadly died as a result of the attack.

The suspect was fatally shot by officers within seven minutes of the original call, he adds.

Greater Manchester Police Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson is giving a statement following a synagogue attack in Manchester.

You can watch the statement live above.

We'll bring you all the key updates, stay with us.

• Warning: This post contains a graphic image

We can now bring you a photo, via the Reuters news agency, from the scene of the synagogue attack, which shows the body of the attacker being examined by a bomb disposal technician.

On the right-hand side, a bomb disposal robot can be seen. A knife is nearby, as well as items that were thought to have been strapped to the attacker's waist.

Image source, Reuters

We've just finished hearing from counter-terrorism policing Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor - and are due to get a separate update from Greater Manchester Police in the next few moments.

The assistant commissioner said he was "devastated" - here are the key lines:

• Police say the attack has been declared a terrorist incident
• Two further arrests have been made
• Officers think they know the identity of the attacker, but they are not able to confirm it at this stage "for safety reasons"
• He reiterated that two people had died in the incident

Watch the next police statement live above shortly.

Some more now from the statement from Counter-terrorism Policing Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor.

He says it is "devastating" for the incident to happen on Yom Kippur, one of the holiest days for the Jewish community.

He says counter-terrorism police are deploying all resources possible and they will make sure all lines of inquiry are investigated to build a full picture in the coming days and weeks.

Police say the Manchester synagogue attack has been declared a terrorist incident.

Police say they believe they know the attacker's identity "but for safety reasons at the scene we’re unable to confirm at this stage".

Police say they have made two further arrests.

Counter-terrorism Policing Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor is now speaking.

Stay with us for the latest updates, and you can follow along by clicking Watch live at the top of this page.

We're waiting for Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, of the counter-terrorism police, to make a statement to the media.

While Taylor speaks, we're also due to hear from Greater Manchester Police Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson.

You'll be able to follow along with both statements right here.

We'll also shortly be hearing from Greater Manchester Police Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson.

He's due to make a statement to the media at 15:15 BST.

Stay right here on this page for the latest updates from his statement.

Here is a reminder of where the attack happened:

We're expecting to hear from the head of counter-terrorism policing shortly.

Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor is due to make a statement to the media at around 15:00 BST.

We'll bring you the top lines from his statement here - stick with us.

Mark Farlow, a scaffolder from Ashton, was working on the road when the armed police turned up in response to the attack.

"There was a lot of commotion," he says.

Police have closed off some of the roads. Farlow says he saw the arrest, but he "couldn't really make out a face".

"It's been absolute chaos."

Crumpsall is usually "quiet" and "calm" but this incident has left Mark "fairly worried".

"It's just horrific - you've got loss of life here," he says solemnly.

"The first thing that struck me was the shocked silence," says BBC journalist Danny Savage who is at the scene in Manchester.

You can catch up on Danny's full report from Crumpsall in the video below.

We have some more now from Greater Manchester Police.

Police say a loud noise heard at the scene of the attack was a result of specialist resources used to "gain entry to the suspect’s vehicle as a precaution".

They say there is "no risk to the public and ongoing activity in relation to this major incident can be expected as we continue our enquiries".

People are advised to "avoid the area" and speak to police if they have any concerns.

Police in Manchester confirm that three people have died, including the suspect, who was shot by firearms officers.

To recap, police earlier said two people had died following the attack and that a third - thought to be the attacker - was presumed dead but this couldn't be confirmed due to "suspicious items on his person".

Three other people are in a serious condition.

A SAS helicopter has been seen flying over the scene in Crumpsall.

The air service, dubbed "Blue Thunder", is part of an airborne counter terrorism initiative.

Final clearance to use the aircraft comes from government officials such as the COBR (Cobra) emergency committee, who are due to meet in person this afternoon.

Image source, PA Media

A witness says he saw two men in handcuffs on a residential street being led away by police.

The man, who did not want to be identified, lives on White House Avenue - close to the Heaton Park Synagogue - which he says is usually "very quiet".

He told the PA news agency: "They’ve arrested two people on our road." He added that he did not know the men.

"They’ve closed the road and there’s a police helicopter just over us. There were six or seven police cars with armed police," he added.

Greater Manchester Police has not confirmed any arrests linked to the incident. We'll continue to monitor updates from them.

Image source, PA Media