We're pausing our live coverage of the attack on a synagogue in East Jerusalem.

Seven people were shot dead and at least three more people were injured in the attack.

Israel's police department described it as a "terrorist incident" and said the attacker had been "neutralised".

UN chief Antonio Guterres called it "abhorrent" particularly because it occurred at a place of worship and "on the very day we commemorated International Holocaust Remembrance Day".

The attack in East Jerusalem comes one day after nine Palestinians were killed during an Israeli military raid in the occupied West Bank - the deadliest in years.

You can follow the latest developments to this story here.

We're now hearing that US President Joe Biden has directed his national security team to offer support to their Israeli counterparts, the White House has said.

White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters: "We strongly condemn the heinous terror attack that took place this evening at a synagogue in Jerusalem, and are shocked and saddened by the loss of life".

"The attack tragically occurred on International Holocaust Remembrance Day, when the memory of those lost in the Holocaust is commemorated around the world," Jean-Pierre added.

Image source, Getty Images

Palestinian militant groups have praised the attack but did not say one of their members was responsible.

There have also been celebrations in both the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip, where people fired guns into the air, honked horns and distributed sweets.

UN chief Antonio Guterres has condemned the "abhorrent" attack to a synagogue in East Jerusalem that killed at least seven people.

"The secretary general strongly condemns today's terrorist attack," his spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.

"It is particularly abhorrent that the attack occurred at a place of worship, and on the very day we commemorated International Holocaust Remembrance Day".

Dujarric added Guterres is "deeply worried" by the current escalation of violence in the area and has urged the "utmost restraint".

Image source, Reuters

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been to the scene of a shooting at a synagogue in East Jerusalem. He joined National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir in the city's Neve Yaakov neighbourhood.

At least seven people died in the attack, which police have described as a "terrorist incident".

Speaking at the scene, Israeli police commissioner Kobi Shabtai called it "one of the worst attacks we have encountered in recent years".

Image source, Reuters

Tom Bateman
reporting from East Jerusalem

Image source, Reuters

We’re close to the synagogue where the police have shut off a big area - armed security forces are everywhere and ambulances are still rushing past. A helicopter’s circling overhead.

In the middle of the road is a smashed up car - the windscreen on the driver’s side is punctured with bullet holes.

A police forensics officer with a head torch is scouring the back of the car. They tell us to move back.

An eyewitness tells me she saw the shooter here in the street - possibly after he was shot by the police - firing into the air as security forces ran after him. This junction is a distance away from the synagogue so it seems this is where he tried to escape.

We’ve heard a few loud bangs, possibly coming from a big Palestinian neighbourhood nearby, suggesting clashes between residents and the Israeli forces.

Image source, Reuters

Shortly after the incident, Israel's controversial far-right National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, visited the scene of the shooting at a synagogue in East Jerusalem where seven people have been shot dead.

He promised to bring safety back to Israel's streets but there is rising anger that he has not yet done so, says the BBC's Yolande Knell in Jerusalem.

Find out more about him here.

Germany's ambassador to Israel Steffen Seibert has expressed his condolences to the families of the victims of an "evil terrorist attack" in East Jerusalem.

"My heart goes out to the families of the murdered victims and I pray for the health of the injured," he wrote on Twitter.

Reacting to the incident, UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly described an attack at a synagogue in east Jerusalem as "appalling".

The attack on worshippers at a synagogue on Holocaust Memorial Day, and during Shabbat - the Jewish day of rest - is "horrific", he wrote on Twitter.

Let's recap what we know so far:

At least seven people have been shot dead at a synagogue in East Jerusalem, with others injured.

The incident happened in the city's Neve Yaakov neighbourhood at around 20:15 local time (18:15 GMT).

Police described the attacker as a "terrorist" and said he had been "neutralised".

Image source, EPA

Image source, Reuters

Image source, EPA

Image source, Reuters

It is a "serious shooting attack, a very complicated attack", police chief Doron Turgeman tells reporters at the scene in Neve Yaakov.

The US Ambassador to Israel, Tom Nides, has also condemned the Jerusalem shooting as a "horrific act of violence" on International Holocaust Remembrance Day, and suggests that children could be among those hurt.

"I am shocked and disgusted at this heinous terrorist attack on innocent people, including children," he wrote on Twitter.

Doron Turgeman, Jerusalem district police commander, says the attacker "is a resident of East Jerusalem".

Police are completing operations at the scene, Turgeman says, adding: "Right now unfortunately we are talking about seven people killed and another three seriously wounded."

The shooting in Jerusalem comes a day after Palestinian officials said nine Palestinians were killed during an Israeli military raid in the occupied West Bank - the deadliest in years.

A woman aged 61 was reported among the dead in the flashpoint town of Jenin.

The Israeli military said its troops went in to arrest Islamic Jihad "terror operatives" planning "major attacks".

The Palestinian presidency accused Israel of a "massacre" and later announced it had ended co-ordination with Israel on security matters.

More here

The US has responded to what it is calling the "apparent terrorist attack", with state department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel saying officials are in touch with their Israeli counterparts.

No change is expected to Secretary of State Antony Blinken's visit to Israel next week, he adds.

"We are still gathering information," Patel tells reporters at a press briefing.

"This is absolutely horrific. Our thoughts, prayers and condolences go out to those killed by this heinous act of violence.

“We condemn this apparent terrorist attack in the strongest terms. Our commitment to Israel's security remains ironclad.”

Image source, Getty Images

Thank you for joining us as we bring you live coverage of a shooting outside a synagogue in East Jerusalem. Here's what we know so far:

At least seven people have been shot dead, with others injured, Israel's foreign ministry says.

It happened in the city’s Neve Yaakov neighbourhood at around 20:15 local time (18:15 GMT).

Israel's ambulance service reported 10 casualties in total.

Calling the incident a terror attack, Israel's police department said the suspected attacker had been "neutralised”.

Local media reports say the suspect was killed by security forces as he fled the scene.

Stay with us as we bring you the latest updates.