While there is no immediate threat in London, the decision will “provide additional support and reassurance”
Police presence has been stepped up in London’s Jewish communities following a suspected terror attack at a synagogue in Manchester. The move comes hours after two people were killed in the vehicle ramming and stabbing attack outside Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue.
The suspect, shot dead by armed police just before 9.40am, left three others in critical condition. The shocking events took place on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.
Although there is no evidence of a similar plot in the capital, patrols have been increased, the Metropolitan Police said in a statement issued this afternoon. It reads: “While details of the major incident in Greater Manchester this morning are still emerging, it will understandably have significantly increased fear and concern in Jewish communities across the UK, including here in London.
“While there is nothing to suggest an increased threat to London, we have deployed additional resources to the areas around synagogues, other Jewish community venues and in those boroughs with significant Jewish populations. This is in addition to the officers that are already deployed in those areas as part of our existing policing plan for the Jewish High Holy Days.
“We are reviewing events due to take place in London in the coming days, in light of this morning’s incident, to ensure all appropriate measures are taken to provide reassurance and keep the public safe.”
Officers have already been spotted on guard outside the London Central synagogue in Fitzrovia. Haringey Council is also supporting its large Jewish community, with leader Councillor Peray Ahmet urging the borough to stand together as one.
She said: “Iâm appalled and devastated by the terrorist attack that occurred at a synagogue in Manchester this morning on Yom Kippur â the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.
“Our immediate thoughts are with the victims, family and friends who have been affected by this callous and cowardly act. These harrowing scenes have no place in British society and serve as a timely reminder for us all to unite against divisiveness.
“We will work actively with our community, and I want to reassure our Jewish residents that we stand together with them in solidarity in the aftermath of this distressing incident. There will be increased police patrols around our synagogues to provide additional support and reassurance to the community, and to keep everyone safe.
“There is no place for any form of hate here in our borough and we stand together as one community in Haringey.”
Greater Manchester Police confirmed it sent a bomb disposal unit to Heaton Park after footage shared on social media appeared to show members of the public shouting to firearms officers that the suspect had a bomb strapped to him. Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, told the BBC one of the victims appeared to be a security guard who had been attacked with a knife.
A woman, who described herself as a religious Jew who lives next door to the synagogue, said as soon as the suspect got out of the car he âstarted stabbing anyone near himâ. Chava Lewin said: “I was outside and heard a banging sound and I thought it might be a firework.
“My husband went outside and then ran back inside and said, âthereâs been a terrorist attack’. I spoke to someone who said she was driving and saw a car driving erratically and it crashed into the gates (of the synagogue).
“She thought maybe he had a heart attack. The second he got out of the car he started stabbing anyone near him. He went for the security guard and tried to break into the synagogue. He was in the courtyard. Someone barricaded the door. Everyone is in utter shock.”
A street around a quarter of a mile down the road from the synagogue appeared to be the focus of intense police activity. Armed police stood guard outside of blue police tape at the cordon on White House Avenue in Crumpsall.
A number of police vehicles were parked further down the street, but the exact property they are attending could not be made out from the cordon. A man who lives on White House Avenue said he saw two men in handcuffs being led away by police.
The man, who did not wanted to be identified, told the PA news agency: âTheyâve arrested two people on our road.â He said he did not know the men, or which house they were linked to.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer is set to fly home early from a meeting of European leaders in Denmark in order to chair a Cobra meeting following the incident.
He told reporters he was âappalledâ at the attack, adding: “The fact that this has taken place on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, makes it all the more horrific.”
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