Kate and William send thought to victims after synagogue attack

William and Kate have sent their thoughts to victims and families after two people were killed in a suspected terror attack next to a synagogue in Manchester.

The Prince and Princess of Wales said in a personal message posted on social media: ‘Our thoughts are with the victims and the families of the terrible attack at Heaton Park Synagogue.

‘The fact that this tragedy occurred on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, makes it all the more shocking.

‘We are thinking of the entire community as well as the emergency responders who attended this terrible incident.’

The message was signed ‘W & C’.

At least two people were killed in the attack at Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in Crumpsall, Manchester, this morning.

A car was driven into a crowd and a man stabbed at 9.31am on Yom Kippur – the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. Police said three other victims are in a serious condition after the attack.

The suspect, who was feared to be wearing an explosive vest, has also died after being gunned down by an armed officer, police this afternoon confirmed.

The King said he and the Queen were ‘deeply shocked and saddened to learn of the horror, especially on such a significant day for the Jewish community’.

Charles, in a message issued by Buckingham Palace, said his thoughts and prayers were with all those affected by ‘this appalling incident’ as he praised the ‘swift actions’ of the emergency services.

Elite officers armed with assault rifles and Glock pistols are now standing guard outside a property in the ‘quiet’ street, which was raided earlier today. 

A cordon is also in place, with a large number of police vehicles seen blocking the cul-de-sac, made up of semi-detached homes. 

It is believed armed officers from over the border in Wales are among those now taking part in the security operation to lockdown Manchester. 

Army bomb disposal experts were called to the nearby synagogue attack site. 

At 12.45pm a small bang could be heard from near the synagogue, suspected to be a controlled explosion. 

Hero rabbi Daniel Walker barricaded worshippers inside the building after the suspect crashed into the gate and began stabbing ‘anyone and everyone’.

One witness described him moving from victim to victim in a ‘robotic’ manner ‘like he had a job to do’ – targeting ‘anyone’ wearing a Kippur. 

He then tried to force his way inside before being shot dead by armed police at 9.38am. 

A senior security source, who for decades worked in armed policing, told the Daily Mail that the man’s suicide belt looked real. 

Greater Manchester Police said it had ‘declared Plato’ – the national code-word used by police and emergency services when responding to a ‘marauding terror attack’. 

Video shared on social media appears to show armed police officers pointing guns at a man laying on the ground as one screams to onlookers: ‘Everybody else, get back. If you’re not involved, move back, get away… he has a bomb, go away.’ 

The man on the ground is seen starting to get up before there is the sound of a gunshot and he falls to the ground. A victim lies motionless on the ground outside the synagogue gates with blood around their head. 

Sir Keir Starmer said ‘additional police assets’ will be deployed at synagogues across the country following the attack.

The Prime Minister 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 said he was ‘appalled’ 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.’