One of the Manchester synagogue victims was shot dead by police.

BarcelonaOne of the two fatalities in Thursday's attack on a synagogue in Manchester, northern England, was killed by gunfire fired by responding officers, police said. According to preliminary information, officers also injured another person.

A man mowed down several pedestrians and a security guard outside a synagogue where Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, was being celebrated. Two people were killed and four others were injured. Initially, it was believed that all the fatalities were the result of the attacker, but on Friday, it was reported that one died as a result of police action. Officers fired at the attacker, who they believed was carrying a bomb, and he also died.

Manchester Police Chief Stephen Watson said three people were hospitalized in serious condition, one of whom had gunshot wounds. "It is believed the suspect was not in possession of a firearm and that the only shots were fired by police officers with licensed weapons as they attempted to prevent the assailant from entering the synagogue," Watson said.

Terrorist attack

The incident is being treated as a possible terrorist attack, and two arrests have been made. British counter-terrorism police have identified the suspected attacker: Jihad Al-Shamie, a 35-year-old British citizen of Syrian descent.

The attack took place at the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue in Crumpsall. At 9:30 a.m., an individual alerted police to the worship center. They explained that they had seen a car running over several people and that a man had been stabbed. Another witness stated that the car had moved erratically before crashing into the synagogue doors. "The moment he got out of the car, he started stabbing everyone nearby. He went to find the security guard and tried to enter the synagogue," explained a neighbor, adding that "someone blocked the door." "Everyone is in a state of shock," she said.

A video shared on social media and verified by Reuters showed police shooting a man inside the synagogue perimeter, while another man lay on the ground in a pool of blood. "He has a bomb, get out!" a police officer shouted at onlookers. "I saw three police officers pointing guns at a man in the synagogue parking lot, telling him not to move, stay on the ground, not to move or they would shoot," said local resident Angela Crawshaw. "Then they fired and he fell to the ground. Then he tried to get up and move again, and they shot him again." A bomb disposal unit later arrived at the scene.

In the aftermath of the attack, several police officers were seen escorting a group of older men, mostly Jewish, some crying, many looking shaken, out of the synagogue. Some wore white robes.

"I am appalled by the attack on a synagogue in Crumpsall," said UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. "The fact that this happened on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, makes it even more horrific." Starmer said additional police were being deployed to synagogues across the country and assured that "everything possible will be done to keep the Jewish community safe." King Charles also said he was "deeply shocked and saddened."