British police say they believe the man responsible for the deadly attack at a synagogue in Manchester on Thursday was a 35-year-old British citizen of Syrian descent. In a statement, Greater Manchester Police identified the man as Jihad Al-Shamie, who was shot and killed by officers.
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Police also said that three people have been arrested on suspicion of commission, preparation and instigation of acts of terrorism. They are two men in their 30s and a woman in her 60s.
The assailant drove a car into people outside the synagogue and then began stabbing them, killing two and seriously wounding four in what police called a terrorist attack on the holiest day of the Jewish year.
The suspect was shot by officers, police said, though authorities took some time to confirm he was dead because he was wearing a vest that made it appear as if he had explosives. Police later said he did not have a bomb.
Police said they were working to identify the dead and determine the motive for the attack. Three people were hospitalised in serious condition.
The assault took place as people gathered at an Orthodox synagogue in a suburban neighbourhood of Manchester on Yom Kippur, the day of atonement and the most solemn day in the Jewish calendar. Police said the two people killed were Jewish.