**Tragedy Strikes Manchester Synagogue: Two Dead in Attack**

A devastating incident unfolded this morning at the Heaton Park synagogue in Manchester, resulting in the deaths of two individuals. Greater Manchester Police (GMP) confirmed that the attack involved a car ramming and a knife assault, which has left three others in critical condition in hospital.

The police were alerted at 9.31am by a member of the public who reported seeing a car driven towards people outside the synagogue, alongside a stabbing. Within minutes, GMP declared a major incident and activated their PLATO protocol, which is used for incidents involving firearms. Armed officers arrived on the scene shortly after and shot the suspect, who was reportedly carrying a device, though it remains unclear if it was functional.

In the aftermath, bomb squad officers were deployed to the area to assess the situation. The attack has sent shockwaves through the local Jewish community, particularly as it coincides with Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, when congregants gather for prayer.

A spokesperson for GMP stated, "Police were called to the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue, on Middleton Road, Crumpsall, at 9.31am. Shots were fired by Greater Manchester Police firearms officers at 9.38am. One man has been shot, believed to be the offender."

The Community Security Trust, a charity dedicated to protecting the Jewish community, expressed their horror at the incident, labelling it an "appalling attack on the holiest day of the Jewish year." They thanked the police and synagogue security for their swift response.

In response to the attack, Labour leader Keir Starmer, who was in Copenhagen, announced he would return to London to chair an emergency Cobra meeting. He described the incident as "absolutely shocking" and extended his thoughts to those affected. Starmer confirmed that additional police resources would be deployed to synagogues across the country to ensure the safety of the Jewish community.

The situation remains under investigation as authorities work to gather more information about the events that transpired this morning.