Manchester Synagogue Attacker Named After Two Killed in Yom Kippur Terror

Crumpsall, Manchester – The man shot dead by police after killing two people and injuring four others in a horrific terror attack outside a Manchester synagogue has been identified.

The attacker, named by police as 35-year-old Jihad Al-Shamie, launched his deadly attack outside the Heaton Park synagogue on Saturday, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, Yom Kippur.

Two people were tragically killed and four others remain in hospital in a serious condition following the attack, which involved a vehicle and a knife.

Al-Shamie, a British citizen of Syrian descent, was shot and killed by armed officers at 9:38 AM as he attempted to gain entry into the synagogue, packed with worshippers.

In a statement, Greater Manchester Police said: "We are now able to confirm that, although formal identification is yet to take place, we believe the person responsible for today’s attacks is 35-year-old Jihad Al-Shamie. He is a British citizen of Syrian descent".

The force confirmed the incident is being treated as terror-related and the investigation is being led by Counter Terrorist Officers.

The terrifying attack began when Al-Shamie rammed his car into the gates of the synagogue before getting out and indiscriminately stabbing people nearby.

Dramatic video shared on social media captured the tense final moments, with an onlooker shouting that the suspect, "has got a bomb on him", and appeared to be trying to press a button to detonate it. A gunshot is then heard and the suspect falls to the ground.

Aftermath photos showed what appeared to be an explosive belt and a knife on the ground near Al-Shamie's body. A bomb disposal unit was called to the scene, and a loud bang heard by residents was later confirmed by police to be a controlled entry into the suspect's vehicle 'as a precaution'.

Police have since revealed that the device the suspect was wearing was, "not viable", meaning it was a fake bomb.

Initial checks of police and security service databases show Al-Shamie was not on any active counter-terrorism watchlists, though further inquiries are underway to determine if he was previously known to authorities in any capacity.

In a fast-moving development, counter-terror officers later raided a property near the synagogue, leading two men away in handcuffs.

Operation Plato, the specific police response for such a terrorist attack, has been stood down, but the area remains an active major incident scene as the investigation continues.