Police say the man who killed two Jewish men outside a synagogue on the Jewish holy day was a British citizen of Syrian descent. The attacker has been named as Jihad Al-Shamie, 35, who is believed to have arrived in the UK as a child and was granted British citizenship in 2006 when he was around 16. He was shot dead by officers seven minutes after the emergency response was triggered in Crumpsall, Greater Manchester, on Thursday morning.

Greater Manchester Police said three people have been arrested on suspicion of planning, preparation and instigation of acts of terrorism in connection with the killings. The force said it is examining the motive behind the attack and that Al-Shamie had not been referred to the Government’s Prevent anti-radicalisation scheme. He is understood to have lived in Prestwich, about two miles from the scene, and a neighbour said his name was linked to a local property and that they recognised his face from photographs of the attacker.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer visited a synagogue and pledged to do everything in his power to protect Jewish communities. Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis described the incident as a tragic result of antisemitism in public life. GMP Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson praised the bravery of security staff and worshippers who helped stop the attacker, and Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham called the incident a horrific antisemitic attack. In a separate development, police said about 40 people were arrested in Whitehall during a protest on Thursday evening.